Differences in Diseases Treated in the ER and Polyclinics

Sahabat Hermina, in the world of health services, IGD (Emergency Department) and polyclinic are two facilities that have different functions and purposes. Understanding these differences is important so that people can choose services that suit their medical needs. The following is an explanation of the differences in diseases treated in the ER and polyclinics.

Emergency Room (IGD)

The ER is a part of the hospital that provides emergency medical services 24 hours a day. Patients who come to the ER are patients who need immediate treatment because their condition can be life threatening or requires intensive medical attention.

Diseases or conditions treated in the ER include:

• Heart Attack: Symptoms such as severe chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting require immediate action.
• Stroke: Characterized by sudden weakness on one side of the body, impaired speech, or confusion.
• Accidents: Such as head injuries, broken bones, serious injuries, or heavy bleeding.
• Severe Asthma: Attacks that do not improve with regular treatment.
• Seizures: Especially if they occur for the first time or last a long time.
• Poisoning: Due to drugs, chemicals, animal bites or certain foods.
• Other Life-Threatening Conditions: Such as anaphylactic shock, respiratory failure, or internal bleeding.

In the ER, patients will be assessed using a triage system to determine the level of emergency and treatment priorities.

Polyclinic

Polyclinics are outpatient services that usually operate during certain working hours. Polyclinics serve patients with conditions that do not require emergency treatment and are usually planned in advance.

Diseases or conditions treated at the polyclinic include:

• Chronic Diseases: Such as diabetes, hypertension, or stable heart disease.
• Routine Checkups: For early detection of disease or health monitoring.
• Minor Infections: Such as flu, urinary tract infections, or strep throat.
• Specialist Consultation: Such as skin problems, digestive disorders, or non-acute neurological complaints.
• Medical Rehabilitation: For patients post-surgery or recovering from certain injuries.
• Immunization: Both for children and adults.

In polyclinics, patients usually need to make an appointment in advance, except for certain services such as general medicine.

Main Differences between ER and Polyclinic

Aspect	IGD	Polyclinic
Type of service	Emergency	Outpatient
Operating hours	24 hours	Specific working hours
Patient condition	Life-threatening or urgent	Stable or non-emergency
Visitation system	No need to promise	Need to make an appointment (generally)

Well, the emergency room is intended to handle conditions that are emergencies and require immediate treatment, while polyclinics serve conditions that are more stable and are usually planned in advance. Understanding these differences can help people get appropriate health services, while improving the efficiency of the medical service system. Stay healthy.

 

Reference

• Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2023). Guide to Health Services in Hospitals. Accessed from http://www.kemkes.go.id.
• World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). Emergency and Outpatient Care Guidelines. Diakses dari https://www.who.int.
• XYZ Hospital Medical Handbook. (2022). Emergency Room and Polyclinic Service Procedures.