Emergency Care

Services for every emergency, illness and injury

SCL Health hospitals can get you the right care wherever and whenever you need it. The emergency room is the best fit for illness or injuries requiring immediate care or for complex medical emergencies. Urgent care, walk-in care or a same-day visit with your own doctor are convenient and cost-saving options for less critical conditions.

At times you may need a higher level of care than is available in your local ER. That’s when you can rely on our resources and partnerships to get you quickly to the right experts within the hospital, at another SCL Health facility or anywhere you need to receive appropriate care.

Learn when to go to the emergency room and see other care options.

What to expect when you visit the ER

When you arrive in the ER, you’ll be assessed by a member of our emergency care staff so we can learn about your injury or illness. Following this assessment, you’ll check in at our registration desk to provide any information we need to treat you, like ordering appropriate tests. The severity of your injury or illness will determine the order in which you’re seen by ER staff. Learn what to bring and what to expect when you go to one of our emergency care centers.

Specialized emergency care

Because each person is unique and each emergency is different, we provide specialized care to meet your needs.

Trauma

Your local SCL Health ER is equipped to treat a variety of traumatic injuries, including head injuries, broken bones and other serious injuries. Most ERs are identified at different levels, such as Level II or Level III Trauma Centers, depending on the availability of specialists and specialty treatment.

Learn about Trauma Centers.

Senior ER

Recognizing the growing need for specialized care for people age 65 and older, several SCL Health hospitals have built programs or special ERs designed to care for older individuals in a soothing environment. The staff is specially trained to communicate with older patients and to use senior-specific screenings, tests and protocols to reduce risks.

Pediatric emergency care

All SCL hospitals are able to treat your child in an emergency, even if the hospital does not have full-service pediatric care. Once your child receives immediate evaluation and care, the doctor may recommend a specialized pediatric setting for further treatment.

See how we care for kids and babies.

Emergency care for mental and emotional health needs

If you or someone you love needs emergency care for mental health needs or addiction, several SCL Health hospitals are equipped to help you any hour of the day or night. Psychiatric evaluations take place in a specially designated area with individual rooms and a dedicated nurses’ station, allowing for a more private and secure setting. Your initial assessment will help determine the appropriate next steps, which may include admission to the hospital, referral to other programs, facilities and community partners, or other behavioral health (mental and emotional health) services.

Medical and flight transport

Should you need more advanced emergency care, we may transfer you to another facility, either by ambulance service or air. Specially trained teams accompany you during transport, attending to your medical needs and communicating with the receiving hospital to ensure they’re prepared for your arrival. Team members may include flight nurses, paramedics, respiratory therapists and nurses with advanced training in caring for pregnant women and newborns needing critical emergency care.