Eric Cummins, MD
Emergency Medicine Physician
Facility Medical Director
Vice Chief of Staff
Banner Gateway Medical Center - MD Anderson
Making Sense of the Emergency Department
No One Should Feel Lost in the Emergency Department
I’ve spent 15+ years caring for patients in the emergency department, and I know how stressful a visit can be. My goal here is to make the experience a little clearer (and maybe a little less mysterious) by sharing practical information and honest answers.
I created this website as a guide for patients and families who often face the same questions during an emergency department visit:
What should I expect during my ED visit?
How can I ask questions without bothering anyone?
How long will I be here (a.k.a. the most popular question of all time)?
What’s happening behind the scenes while I wait, is anyone actually working back there?
What happens after I leave?
After hearing these questions time and again, I wanted to build a resource that offers clarity, transparency, and reassurance… without making you feel like you’re reading another set of 10-page hospital discharge instructions. Think of it as a peek behind the medical curtain minus the medical jargon, with a bit of humanity.
Printable Emergency Room & Medical Resources
Because Nobody Plans to Visit the ER (But Life Has Other Ideas!)
When life throws you a curveball and you find yourself headed to the emergency room, the last thing you want is to frantically try to remember your medications or dig for your insurance card. That's where we come in! Below you'll find FREE print-ready, fillable PDFs: one for your medication list, one for your medical/surgical history, and one handy ER visit checklist. Print these out, keep them handy, and give yourself one less thing to worry about!
ER Visit Companion
Headed to the ER?
Use this printable checklist to track vital signs, questions, and follow-ups, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks
Medication List
Keep your meds straight
Download this printable medication list and never play guessing games at the ER again
We care about your past
Grab this PDF and organize your past medical and surgical history in an easier way
Past Medical History
Your Experience Matters to Me
I'm truly committed to making every emergency department visit as positive as possible, and your feedback is invaluable in helping me achieve that goal. You will likely receive a patient experience survey via text/email.
Whether you'd like to share something that went well or point out areas where we can improve, I genuinely want to hear from you. I am working to create a secure (HIPAA-compliant) avenue for communication - stay tuned.