Numerous internal departments are comprised throughout Betsy Johnson Regional Hospitals array of health care professionals. All these departments work in unity, with the doctors, to provide medical assistance to people who need medical help.
             The Emergency Room Department evaluates patients that are in need of urgent care. This department handles an endless spectrum of urgent health problems; such as heart attack, respiratory distress, stroke, fever, flu, nausea, etc. After the doctor or physician's assistant evaluates and stabilizes the patient, the nurse starts intravenous lines for fluids and/or medications. The nurse then monitors the patient's vital signs, pain level, and charts this information. The doctor will then decide whether to admit or discharge the patient.
             The Cardiovascular and Respiratory Department monitor patients that are experiencing difficulty breathing or having cardiac problems. With doctors' orders, this department administers breathing treatments, Electrocardiogram (EKG), Arterial Blood Gas (ABG), and, in extreme trauma cases, incubates a patient.
             The Phlebotomy Department collects blood from patients so tests, that doctors order, can be performed. Phlebotomists administer venipuncture and draw the blood out into an array of vacutainers that hold and preserve the blood. After drawing the blood and inverting the tubes to mix the blood with the chemical in the vacutainer, they transport the blood to the laboratory. Phlebotomist also administers bleeding times to patients that are going to have surgery. The bleeding time reveals the amount of time it takes the patient to clot. This gives the doctor an idea of how much the patient will bleed during the surgery then the doctor can make a decision on how much blood to have on stand-by.
             The Laboratory Department tests and analyzes the blood that the Phlebotomy department brings them. The laboratory spins the blood down to separat...