If you or a family member have an injury or illness that requires immediate attention—don’t delay. Call 911 in the event of an emergency or go to the Emergency Room for evaluation and treatment. CentraState’s Emergency Department is a state-of-the-art Level II emergency facility. Our specially-trained emergency physicians and Magnet-recognized nursing team provide prompt, expert emergency and urgent care for patients of all ages—24 hours a day, seven days a week. CentraState also has the distinction of being a certified Advanced Primary Stroke Center, as well as an accredited Chest Pain Center.
SPECIALIZED EMERGENCY CARE
Pediatric emergency physicians, who are specially trained to care for children and adolescents, are on site 24/7. Children are fast-tracked to a child-friendly space separate from the adult care areas. This space includes private rooms decorated in child-friendly themes, as well as large, flat-screen LCD televisions in each room—all designed to create a comforting environment to put an apprehensive child at ease.
FirstCare (Urgent Care): Fast-tracked treatment for non-life-threatening problems that could become worse without treatment, such as breathing problems, sprains, allergic reactions, lacerations, or abdominal issues. Other services include:
- Allergic reactions
- Bronchitis
- Bruises & minor burns
- Colds & coughs
- Eye & ear infections
- Sports-related injuries
- School & DOT physicals
- Crutches, boots, splints, & braces
- Immunizations
- X-rays
- Blood & urine tests
Open 7 days a week. Most health insurances and self-pay accepted.
The Observation Unit at CentraState Medical Center is a designated area within the hospital that allows our physicians to monitor and evaluate the medical condition of patients who do not meet criteria for inpatient admission but are not well enough to go home without requiring further observation. The unit is a part of CentraState’s ongoing effort to improve patient experience by shortening their stay in the Emergency Department and centralizing care for patients.
While under observation, patients will be regularly assessed by a multidisciplinary care team of physicians, nurse practitioners, and other clinical professionals. After providing all necessary diagnostic tests, medications, and therapies, the physician will discuss with the patient whether the patient should be admitted to the hospital as an inpatient or be discharged with follow up services. This observation period generally lasts 24 hours.
Advanced Stroke Center
CentraState is part of a select few in the country that offers a highly specialized “Stroke Alert” response team. The Advanced Primary Stroke Center is recognized for its licensed certification from The Joint Commission and the NJDHSS.
The stroke response team includes an emergency physician, a neurologist, an emergency registered nurse, and a stroke coordinator, all of whom have advanced training in caring for stroke patients. The team is available around the clock to assess patients immediately upon their arrival at the Emergency Department and initiate appropriate stroke treatment, which may include the administration of a “clot-busting” medication. When a patient is experiencing stroke symptoms, every second counts in preventing or limiting damage to brain tissue. CentraState is also available to assist with stroke rehabilitation and recovery following stroke treatment.
RESOURCES
PATIENT PORTAL
CentraState’s patient portal offers access to:
- Medical history, emergency records and discharge instructions
- Test and lab results
- Appointment scheduling
- Health information and education
- Medication refill requests
- Secure messaging with physicians
HEALTH PROFILE CARD
The CentraState Health Profile Card can prevent adverse drug reactions and allergic responses. The card, which is filled out by the bearer, should be carried at all times and be easily accessible in the case of a medical emergency.
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FAQs
Make your trip faster, safer, and easier when you bring:
- A list of your current medications and dosages, including over the counter, prescribed and herbal supplements.
- An advocate. This could be a family member, friend, or caregiver who might help communicate with the hospital staff, make you more comfortable while you wait, watch your belongings, or help you pass the time.
- Names of primary care physician and specialists.
- Insurance information and identification. If you have no health insurance you will be treated. It’s the law.
- List of allergies, including drugs, food, latex, etc.
- List of prior surgeries.
- List of medical conditions.
- Copy of living will.
Please also report all conditions to the medical staff, even those that may be embarrassing.
Upon your arrival, an ED representative will greet you, and the triage clinician will evaluate your medical condition. During triage, the most acutely ill and injured patients are seen first. Based on the nature and severity of your illness or injury, you will be placed in a patient room or asked to return to the waiting room until an appropriate room is available.
Please advise your nurse of any health concerns or other issues that may be relevant to your case. For the latest information on visitor guidelines, please visit our Visitor section.
After an initial evaluation, your clinician may request further testing such as blood work, x-rays, CT scans, or ultrasounds. The turnaround time for these tests depend on a variety of factors, below are the estimated times.
- Average Testing Times:
- Labs: 80-110 minutes
- X-ray: 60-90 minutes
- Ultrasound: 90-120 minutes
- CT Scan: 60-180 minutes
We ask that you do not eat or drink anything until you have been evaluated to avoid testing delays.
After your clinician reviews the findings of your test results and exams, they wlil provide you with a care plan that will explain the best next steps.
- If You’re Admitted: You must remain in the ED care area until an appropriate inpatient room becomes available.
- Observation: Observation period generally lasts 24 hours. After reviewing your observation period results, you will either be discharged with follow-up services or admitted to the hospital as an inpatient.
- Discharge from the ED: Before you are discharged, you will receive all the necessary information and instructions needed for follow-up care with your primary care provider. You will also receive instructions on how to access CentraState’s patient portal. You may be referred to a specialist for follow-up care following your visit.
Please be advised that the Emergency Department physician-based bill is separate from the Medical Center bill. You will also receive a separate bill if you receive any services from other hospital-based physician groups. This group includes but is not limited to Central Jersey Emergency Medical Associates, Central Jersey Newborn Care, Princeton Radiology Associates, Liberty Anesthesia, Hackensack Pathology, and any consulting physicians.
With many insurance companies switching to “managed care” plans, we cannot assure that all hospital-based physicians participate with all plans. CentraState Medical Center may participate with your insurance plan, but hospital-based physician groups may not.
Please contact your insurance company to determine if these physicians are covered by your specific policy.
If you have questions regarding the hospital-based physician’s bills you may contact their billing office at the following numbers:
Emergency Physicians………… 866-898-7142
(Central Jersey Emergency Medical Associates)
Anesthesiologists………………….800-431-5379
(Liberty Anesthesia)
Radiologists…………………………..732-462-3302
(Princeton Radiology Associates)
Pathologists ………………………….800-213-5135
(Hackensack Pathology)
Neurologists………………………….732-866-6484
(CJNA – EEG readings only)
Neonatologists ……………………..908-829-3465
(Central Jersey Newborn Care)
A hospitalist is a physician who specializes in caring for patients during their hospital stay. Most hospitals throughout the United States now have a hospitalist program as a standard of care.
Freehold Hospitalists is a group of full-time, on-site physicians at CentraState with extensive expertise in inpatient care and training in internal medicine and family practice. If your primary care physician is unable to visit you during your stay, a hospitalist will manage your care while you are a patient at CentraState. Our hospitalists work in collaboration with specialized nurse practitioners, and they are available 24/7 to meet your health care needs.
To learn more about our hospitalist program, please call 732-431-0023.
When you arrive at the Emergency Department at CentraState, one of our hospitalists will greet you and begin coordinating your care. During your stay, your hospitalist will visit you each day to assess your progress, order diagnostic tests and treatments, prescribe medication, provide any necessary referrals to specialists, and oversee your discharge when you are ready. In addition, your hospitalist will keep your primary care physician and your family informed about your health throughout your stay.
Because our hospitalists are based on site at the hospital, they are very accessible to patients and their families and can quickly and effectively respond to your needs. Our hospitalists enhance quality of care during your stay by offering:
- A prompt admission process
- Continuous on-site monitoring of your changing health care needs
- Faster interpretation of tests and procedures
- Greater flexibility in making health care decisions that expedite recovery
- A strong, collaborative working relationship with CentraState physicians and staff
- Frequent communication with your physician and your family
- An additional support system for your family
- A potentially shorter length of stay in the hospital
