Emergency! You call 911 and the ambulance arrives. You may feel that you have no choices at this moment, but you do. Where the ambulance goes is up to you. If you live in a city with more than one ER, it's important to do your homework ahead of time. There are differences between emergency departments, and knowing which one can best serve your needs in the event of a medical emergency can help you to feel more in control. It can mean the difference between life and death.

What should you look for in an ER? Here are some features of the best:

• Physicians who are board certified and residency trained in emergency medicine. This experience is invaluable in treating all kinds of trauma and major medical issues.
• Nurses who are certified trauma nurse specialists and have advanced life support training
• Double physician coverage during the busiest hours. This means you see a doctor much sooner.
• Immediate access to facilities (cardiac catheterization lab) for performing emergency invasive cardiac procedures such as heart angioplasties and open-heart surgery. If you think you might be having a heart attack, you should go to an ER that can open your arteries as quickly as possible. Angioplasty is the gold standard of heart attack intervention.
• 24-hour on-call radiology services for MRIs, at least 16-slice CT scans, X-rays with gamma cameras and other state-of-the-art equipment, and other emergency imaging
• Web-based access to imaging for immediate communication among doctors at home and in the office. This allows radiologists and other physicians to consult on a case from virtually anywhere.
• A hospital-based trauma team which can assemble quickly to provide comprehensive care to patients arriving in the ER. In addition to emergency department physicians and nurses, the team should include trauma surgeons, X-ray and lab technicians, respiratory care, and pastoral care staff.
• Separate entrances for patients arriving by ambulance and by car. This preserves patient privacy.
• All rooms are private, protecting patient confidentiality
• Special accommodations for psychiatric patients.
• Special accommodations for women. Women in labor or with other concerns benefit from private, specially equipped rooms at the ER.
• Special accommodations for overweight (bariatric) patients. Larger wheelchairs, exam tables, and doorways ensure quality care for larger patients.
• Enclosed ambulance unloading area provides faster, safer transfer from ambulance to the ER.
• Helicopter landing pad nearby for transfers into and out of the hospital
• Dedicated space for biohazard decontamination.
• A major trauma room as close to Radiology as possible. Quick access to imaging services benefits diagnosis by ER staff.
• A hospital lab staffed around the clock.
• A hospital pharmacy staffed around the clock
• Designation as a state Trauma Center. A level II or III trauma center will have certain staffing, equipment, and other support.
• 24-hour Pastoral Care support provides spiritual and counseling care to patients and families at their most vulnerable.
• 24-hour Respiratory Therapy support ensures fast, professional life-support care.
• Outstanding patient satisfaction scores for emergency care means others have experienced superlative care at the ER.
• Private family conference room allows for confidential conversations among family members and with physicians, pastoral care, and other healthcare staff.
• Comfortable, clean waiting areas make your wait more pleasant.
• Reasonable waits for care mean you will be seen quickly and your healthcare emergency will be treated without undue delay.

Remember - it is up to you which emergency room you go to. Do your homework now to choose the best one in your area, so you'll know where to go should the need arise.