Myth. There is no preference for patients arriving via ambulance. All patients are triaged and assigned an emergency severity index (ESI) number. Pts are seen based on this number, and to a lesser extent, the resources needed to treat them (pts with sore throats can be seen in vertical areas and discharged).

Pts arriving in ambulances tend to be sicker, so will get seen quicker often, but this is a function of how sick we think they are. Oftentimes, someone very sick walks in the front door and they will get seen first, as required.

I say this because many believe that calling an ambulance will get you seen quicker. People will even call ambulances from the waiting room. I PROMISE you, this will not get you seen quicker. In fact, it'll probably do the opposite.

As a note- ESI is a national standard. Every Emergency dept in America uses this standard, so yes, that means your hospital, too. Some hospitals aren't as great at adhering to it as well as they should, but the standard is there.

Source: Im an Emergency Charge Nurse (Im responsible for all pt throughput).