When you or someone you love lands in the ER, every choice matters. Dr. Dean Mitchell sits down with Dr. Tony Dajer, a recently retired emergency physician with four decades on the front lines, to share clear, practical steps that help you get the care you need when minutes count.

They cover how to prepare before you go, what to say at triage, and why bringing your medications and a concise medical history can speed decision making. You will hear when calling an ambulance is the smartest move, how to choose between urgent care and the ER, and why having a calm advocate at your side can change outcomes. Dr. Dajer explains the system challenges behind long waits, the pros and cons of teaching hospitals and community hospitals, and how leadership, scribes, and new AI tools can give doctors more time at the bedside. Real cases underscore crucial lessons, including pediatric and young adult pitfalls, missed appendicitis, stroke warning signs, and why not getting worse is not the same as getting better.

Listen for takeaways you can use today. Know what to bring. Know what to ask. Know when to push for imaging and when to return if symptoms are not fully resolved. This conversation turns ER chaos into a plan.