Emergency care
Emergency medicine services in Gainesville
When an emergency occurs, every second counts and the quality of care you receive can make all the difference.
At HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, we are committed to providing you with the highest level of care. Our full-service emergency room (ER) is open 24/7, offering compassionate care to children and adults.
Expert advice, available 24/7
Free health-related information is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
Free health-related information is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
Our emergency care services
Our goal is to continually work toward enhancing the treatment you receive. We use innovative technology to provide you with personalized care.
Care Path services
To better serve you and your family, we have a designated Care Path area for less severe medical emergencies. Care Path enables us to provide treatment even faster without compromising the quality of care.
Heart attack treatment
If you've experienced a heart attack, we offer quick diagnosis and a range of treatment options, including a coronary balloon angioplasty with stenting and cardiac rehabilitation. Our robust target temperature management program includes policies, procedures and protocols for post-cardiac arrest treatment. We also maintain a "no diversion policy" so you can receive the care you need when you need it most.
Additionally, we have been recognized by the American College of Cardiology as an Accredited Chest Pain Center with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and resuscitation.
Stroke intervention
A stroke is a severe medical emergency requiring prompt treatment to address decreased blood flow to or within the brain. The sooner treatment is administered, the better the outcome.
Our ER is recognized by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, and our emergency care team has extensive experience identifying stroke symptoms. We provide quick diagnoses and a wide range of interventional stroke services, including mechanical thrombectomy.
Freestanding emergency departments
In addition to the emergency department at our hospital, we also have three freestanding emergency care locations throughout the community. Our freestanding emergency clinics offer all the same services you would receive in our hospital's emergency department. If continued care is needed, we will provide transportation to our hospital.
Frequently asked questions
To best help you, we have consolidated a list of answers to common questions we receive about our emergency care.
When should I visit the ER?
We understand it can be difficult to know whether you should go to the ER or wait for your doctor's office to open. However, we want you to feel secure about your choice for care.
There are a wide range of symptoms that may indicate you need to visit the ER, including:
- Back pain
- Broken bones
- Chest pain
- Concussion
- Flu
- Side pain
- Stomach pain
- Trouble breathing
If you are unsure if your symptoms require an ER visit, you can speak to a nurse 24/7 by calling our Consult-A-Nurse® team at (844) 706-8773.
What should I expect at the ER?
When you arrive, one of our triage nurses check your symptoms and vital signs. A registration clerk will then collect your insurance card and other information.
We medically screen, evaluate and stabilize all children and adults, regardless of whether they have insurance or not. Anyone who has severe, life-threatening illnesses or injuries will be treated first. Everyone else will be treated in the order they arrive.
Prior to discharge, we encourage you to ask any questions you may have. We also recommend you keep all of your paperwork, discharge information, medicines or prescriptions together.
What should I bring to the ER?
When coming to the ER, we recommend bringing the following items:
- A list of known allergies
- A list of medicines you currently take
- Copies of results from recent medical tests, if available
- Personal care preferences and restrictions
- A responsible adult or phone number for someone to contact
Where can I find the ER wait times?
Our wait times are updated every 30 minutes and are available on our website. To find out the wait times of the HCA Florida ER nearest to you, check the top of our website or text "ER" to 32222.
Note: Message and data rates may apply. ER wait times are approximate and provided for informational purposes only.
Looking for another location?
Our Emergency care Locations
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