Emergency Care
We’re ready to act fast during some of life’s most stressful moments. At Providence, our emergency team is fully prepared and equipped to help — whatever the hour or day.
Our team is made up of trauma and acute care surgeons, doctors and nurses all trained in emergency medical care. Others such as anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons and specialty-trained experts are ready step in when needed.
When you visit our emergency room, we do our best to treat you as quickly as we can. Traumatic or urgent cases receive immediate care, and we work to ensure the fastest-possible care for all patients.
At Providence, we treat a wide range of conditions, including accidental trauma, heart attack, brain injury and unexplained or potentially life-threatening symptoms. For less pressing concerns — such as sprains, strains or minor cuts and scrapes — we may direct you to a separate waiting or treatment area.
Call 911 immediately or have someone take you to an emergency room if you observe these or other symptoms that require fast diagnosis and care:
- Allergic reactions
- Bleeding that won’t stop
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Dizziness, fainting or weakness
- Drug overdose
- Electrical shock
- Falls
- Foreign object embedded in your body
- Concussion or head injury
- Heart attack or chest pain
- Inability to speak or trouble speaking clearly
- Ingestion of poison or toxic chemicals
- Intoxication from excessive alcohol consumption
- Loss of consciousness
- Mental confusion or changes
- Pain that’s sudden, sharp or severe
- Seizure
- Severe burns
- Severe abdominal pain
- Severe or chronic vomiting or diarrhea
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Stroke, sudden paralysis or slurred speech
- Suicidal thoughts
- Traumatic or complex injuries
- Vision trouble or changes
At Providence, we offer complete, full-service emergency department care. Upon your arrival, specialists evaluate and prioritize your treatment needs.
Our emergency triage nurses have advanced training in evaluating and prioritizing care. They follow a series of steps and criteria to determine who to treat first.
The timing and type of care you will receive depends on:
- The nature and severity of your condition
- The number of people seeking care — weekends, evenings and holidays are often the busiest times
- The number of people who have traumatic or severe injury or illness needing immediate intervention
Our team partners with you to get the care you need — including evaluation, treatment, hospital admission or discharge with instructions for home care if needed.
When parents or children suffer severe trauma or illness, it’s normal for the whole family to feel scared and confused. Our team includes pediatric experts who understand the unique physical and emotional needs of children — from babies and toddlers to teens and young adults.
We know that when you need emergency care, you have a lot on your mind. It’s not unusual to feel overwhelmed. Someone is always here to guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have.
Your team will include doctors, nurses and specialists with high-level skills in emergency medicine. If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask. We offer these and other services:
- Counseling or chaplain guidance
- Social work assistance with personal or practical concerns such as financing or arranging home care
- Translation and interpretation services for language, communication and disability-related issues such as hearing, vision or speech challenges