When you go to the hospital for a rib fracture, the department you choose is related to the size of the hospital and whether the hospital has a detailed division. The patient’s vital signs such as respiration, blood pressure and pulse should be observed. If the patient ever shows signs of shock, go to the emergency department. If it is simply a cracked rib, you can go to the orthopedic or thoracic surgery department. If there is no orthopedic or thoracic surgery department in the hospital, you can also choose the general surgery department for consultation. If the patient and his/her family are unable to distinguish which department to go to, they can go to the information desk first and seek help by telling the nurses at the desk about the patient’s symptoms and condition, in order to improve the efficiency of the visit.