The Emergency Departments are experiencing high volumes of patients who need care. Please be prepared to wait. The most serious cases are treated first.
Not all health concerns need emergency care. You can also book a virtual visit or go to an urgent care clinic for these concerns. For life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
Thank you for your patience.
The Emergency Departments provide urgent care for people with serious illnesses or injuries. This guide shares how visits usually work and what you can expect.
To make your visit smoother, please bring:
Each patient can also bring one care partner with them if they wish.
Learn what to expect when you come to the Emergency Department. Find helpful steps and information to guide you through your visit.
If you arrive by car, please park your vehicle in one of our visitor lots. Get directions to our Emergency Departments and more information about parking:
When you come to the Emergency Department, you will follow a few simple steps to start your visit:
If you do not have health insurance or are visiting from another country, you will need to pay for your care. We will collect your payment when you register.
After completing these steps, you will wait to see a doctor or nurse practitioner. In the Emergency Department, the most serious cases are treated first. Team members treat patients based on how sick they are, not in the order they arrive. Taking an ambulance also does not change when you will get care.
Other things that may affect your wait include:
If your condition changes, please tell your nurse. If you decide not to wait for care or need to leave the hospital, it is important to let a team member know.
The Fit2Sit program helps free up stretchers and ambulances sooner. Instead of waiting in the ambulance, patients sit in waiting room chairs if they are well enough to do so. This helps paramedics get back on the road sooner to provide emergency care to others.
Arriving by ambulance does not change the order of care. The sickest patients still get seen first.
