When to visit the ER for chest pain

Chest pain is any pain dull, sharp, burning, aching or crushing experienced from the neck to the abdomen. Chest pain may indicate a serious problem, such as a heart attack or blood clot. Chest pain may also indicate a problem with your lungs, esophagus, muscles, ribs or digestive system. Some of these conditions are life threatening, and others are not. The only way to know is to seek medical attention.

In short, if you are experiencing chest pain, you should not panic, but you should call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest ER.

If chest pain is accompanied by any of the following conditions, visit the ER:

• Nausea or dizziness
• Excessive sweating or ashen color
• Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath especially after a long period of inactivity
• Pain spreading to the jaw, left arm or back
• Sudden feeling of pressure, squeezing, tightness or crushing under the breastbone
• Very rapid heartbeat and/or breathing
• Very low blood pressure or very low heart rate
• Confusion/disorientation

Patients can complete advance check-in to any of Wesley's four emergency rooms with a free mobile app available for Apple iPhones in iTunes and for Android Phones in the Google Play app Store. Patients can also complete advance registration at Wesley ER Check In. Users simple select which Wesley facility they would like to go to and fill out a few required fields. The selected ER will be instantly notified, enabling the ER staff to better prepare for the patient's arrival. The app and website include the facilities' average wait times so patients can better plan their visit.

ER wait times are approximate and provided for informational purposes only. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911.

ER wait times represent a four-hour rolling average updated every 30 minutes and are defined as the time of patient arrival until the time the patient is greeted by a qualified medical professional. Patients are triaged at arrival and are seen by a qualified medical professional in priority order based on their presenting complaint and reason for visit.

The ER wait time represents the time it takes to see a qualified medical professional, defined as a doctor of medicine (MD), doctor of osteopathy (DO), physician assistant (PA) or advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP).

National average wait time is one hour, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HCA hospitals strive to beat the national average.

Wesley's main emergency department also provides Ready Care services, an “express lane” through the emergency department in a convenient, timely setting. These services are an alternative care route to the regular emergency department where treatment is determined on the severity of the patient's condition. Ready Care is ideal for patients who need immediate care for small emergencies, such as sprains, sore throats, ear infections and rashes. The service area is managed by providers trained in emergency medicine and is fully supervised by board-certified physicians. Patients are referred to the area through the regular emergency department.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact 911 or seek medical attention immediately.