Administration
The Administrative service in the department is divided into three key areas:
1.Registration:
Every patient that attends the Emergency Department must be registered before they are seen by the triage nurse. The reception desk is located in the main waiting area inside the entrance to the department. Patients are directed to the reception area on arrival. A receptionist is on duty 24 hours a day to greet the patient and collect essential registration information. Details will include particulars such as name, date of birth, address, name of general practitioner, contact phone number, next of kin etc.
If the patient has previously attended the emergency department previous medical records will be retrieved so that all relevant information is available. On completion of registration, the patient will be directed to Triage.
As per Department of Health & Children legislation -statutory instrument 37/94 health (outpatient charges) regulations 1994- all patients attending the Emergency Department are liable to a € 100 charge per episode of care unless they are exempt under various categories.
2. Admissions:
Most patients (70%) that attend the emergency department will be discharged following treatment, but the other 30% will be admitted to a ward for further treatment. Again the admission of a patient is a key element of the work of the Administrative staff and requires a team effort from all the other disciplines to provide a smooth transfer of patients from the emergency department to a ward.
3. Secretarial:
In a busy Emergency department there is always lots of correspondence incoming and outgoing that our secretarial staff have to deal with.
The Service also has a Team Leader who is in charge of the Administrative function on the ground and they are available to answer any queries that you may have in relation to the above areas.
The department provides the services of a Patient Liaison Officer (mornings only Monday- Friday) who can assist you attending at the emergency department with any queries you may have outside of the clinical areas.