When you need compassionate, emergency care, doctors, nurses and care teams are here to deliver 24/7. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the Emergency Department or call 911.
When you need emergency care close to home, we are here for you. Our board-certified emergency medicine doctors and nurses work quickly to listen, understand and treat your needs. We deliver compassionate care from the minute you walk in. Our fully staffed Emergency Department is open and ready when you need care for major or life-threatening illness or injury. We will also connect you to the follow-up care that’s right for you, so you can find medical care that best meets your needs.
The Adams Memorial Hospital Emergency Department is comprised of emergency physicians, nurses and technicians trained in emergency medicine. Many of our team members have been at Adams Memorial long term, and almost all of them live in this community. Emergency personnel continually expand their knowledge base. Their expertise must span from the newborn to the elderly patient, each with his/her own needs, influenced by multicultural backgrounds.
Hours
The Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to meet the health care needs of the community.
Visiting Hours
If you are a visitor, the Emergency Department policy allows only one visitor to remain with the patient when possible. This is due to space constraints and patient confidentiality. If the department is extremely busy, the charge nurse may deem it necessary to ask all visitors to remain in the waiting room. The hospital may allow visits to critical and trauma patients after competition of the patient’s initial assessment.
Services
Our team of experienced professionals acts quickly to evaluate, diagnose and administer treatment for a full range of medical emergencies, from minor illnesses and injuries to serious, life-threatening conditions such as heart attack, stroke, orthopedic injuries, breathing problems, abdominal pain and severe bleeding.
New to the Emergency Department is Acute Stroke Telehealth, which focuses on the treatment of neurological conditions including strokes, TIAs (transient ischemic attacks) and seizures. Your doctor performs a live, real-time consultation, including video and sound, with a specialist at a distant hospital. In stroke telemedicine, your doctor works with the specialist at the distant site to provide care to you in your home community and to try to avoid the need for transfer to another medical center. This often allows you to receive quality stroke care in your community.
The Emergency Department is prepared for emergencies with state-of-the-art equipment, including computerized monitors to track heart rhythms, blood pressure and oxygen levels in the blood. Laboratory, cardiopulmonary and medical imaging such as MRI, ultrasound and CT as well as other diagnostic technologies enhance services and support the emergency team.
Special Information
For medical/legal liability reasons, the Emergency Department staff cannot give medical advice over the phone. We are unable to diagnose or make treatment suggestions without assessing the patient, which must be done in person. As always, if you feel you have an emergency, please do not hesitate to come to the Emergency Department. We cannot make appointments for visits to the Emergency Department. Patients are seen by the Emergency Department physician in order of severity of illness or injury. We can be reached at 260-724-2145.
Adams County EMS Services
Adams County EMS is comprised of 35 members, including 24 full-time and 11 part-time employees. The leadership team at Adams County EMS consists of four EMS shift supervisors who manage the day-to-day issues that arise between the three ambulance crews.
The administrative team consists of Scott Smith, M.D., CEO and Medical Director of Adams Memorial; Jen Helt, RN, Director of EMS; Kris Burkhart, Paramedic and Manager of EMS Mobile Integrated Health; and Cameron Nelson, MD, Director of Medical Affairs for Hospital Services. Adams Health Network supports three full-time ambulance crews 24/7 – two are based in Decatur and one is located in Berne. Adams County EMS staff members work 24-hour shifts.
Adams County EMS makes on average 2,500 calls per year, of which 75% are 911 emergency calls and the remaining are facility transports for individuals who need to be transported to another hospital or nursing home. The majority of 911 calls in Adams County are in response to falls.
Adams County residents should feel comforted in the fact that Adams County EMS staff members are highly trained and equipped with some of the best medical equipment available.
