Emergency care
Emergency room (ER) in Pinellas County
When an emergency occurs, we know you need fast, high-quality care you can rely on.
At HCA Florida Northside Hospital, we provide 24/7, compassionate emergency care for many types of injuries and illnesses. Our ER is equipped to offer lifesaving services for both adults and children.
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.
Emergency conditions we treat
Our emergency specialists deliver high-quality emergency treatment when you need it most. Some of the most common conditions we treat include:
- Abdominal pain
- Asthma attacks
- Bleeding
- Breathing problems
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Concussions
- Dehydration
- Fevers
- Gynecologic conditions
- Heart problems
- Heart conditions
- Injuries
- Nausea
- Pediatric conditions
- Seizures
- Sepsis
- Strokes
- Trauma
- Wounds
Emergency services we offer
To ensure you receive the best possible emergency care, we are proud to offer a variety of services at our hospital.
Heart attack treatment
Our physicians work hard to ensure you receive the best possible care after experiencing a heart attack. We have also been designated as an Accredited Chest Pain Center with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) from the American College of Cardiology.
Heart attack symptoms
When blood is prevented from reaching the heart, usually due to a clot, it causes a heart attack. The longer this goes untreated, the more damage occurs. Knowing the signs of a heart attack can help save your own or a loved one's life.
The following symptoms may indicate a heart attack:
- Chest discomfort, including pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain
- Cold sweats
- Indigestion or gastric fullness that is not relieved by antacids
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
- Shortness of breath
Stroke treatment
The faster you receive treatment for a stroke, the less likely you are to experience long-term stroke-related conditions. Our dedication to providing you with timely care has caused our stroke treatment program to be the first in the area to be recognized as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by Det Norske Veritas (DNV).
We are also recognized as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), and we received the Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Stroke symptoms
It's important to know the symptoms of stroke and to act quickly when you recognize them.
Common stroke symptoms include:
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Numbness in the face
- Slurred speech
- Sudden dizziness
- Sudden headache
- Sudden trouble seeing
- Trouble walking
- Uneven smile or facial expression
- Weakness or numbness in the arms
Frequently asked questions
Our emergency care team knows that ER visits can be unsettling. To help you be as prepared as possible, we've compiled answers to some common questions you may have.
When should I go to the emergency room?
We understand it can be difficult to know what type of medical care you need, and whether you should go to the emergency room or wait for your doctor's office to open. We've created a short list of symptoms that may indicate you need to visit the emergency room:
- Back pain accompanied by fever, numbness, weakness, confusion, slurred speech, vision loss and loss of control over bladder or bowels
- Crushing or squeezing feeling in the chest accompanied by other heart attack symptoms, such as shortness of breath or nausea
- Severe side pain, especially if located in the lower right stomach, side or back or accompanied by fever, nausea, diarrhea or blood in the urine
- Stomach pain accompanied by a hard or tender stomach, nausea, shortness of breath, fever or irregular heartbeat
- Trouble breathing accompanied by chest pain
If you are unsure if your symptoms require an emergency room visit, you can speak to a nurse 24/7 by calling our Consult-A-Nurse® team at (855) 422-2228.
What should I expect at the emergency room?
When you get to the emergency room, one of our triage nurses will assess your symptoms and vital signs. Next, a registration clerk will collect your insurance card and other information.
We medically screen, evaluate and stabilize all patients — whether or not they have insurance or are able to pay.
Anyone who has severe, life-threatening illnesses or injuries will be treated first. Everyone else will be treated in the order they arrive.
Before discharge, we encourage you to ask our emergency care teams any questions you have. It is also useful for you to keep all of your paperwork, discharge information and medicines or prescriptions together after you leave the emergency room.
After discharge, our emergency department staff will reach out to your primary care provider to ensure they are updated on your care.
What should I bring to the emergency room?
- A list of medication you currently take
- A list of known allergies
- A list of personal care preferences and restrictions
- A responsible adult or phone number for someone to contact
- Copies of results from recent medical tests, if available
What are the emergency room wait times?
When it comes to emergency care, our goal is to continually work toward enhancing the treatment you receive, while reducing our wait times. This ensures you get the care you need, when you need it most.
Our wait times are updated every 30 minutes and are available on our website.
To find out the wait times of the HCA Florida emergency room nearest to you, check the top of our website or text "ER" to 32222.
Note: Message and data rates may apply. Emergency room wait times are approximate and provided for informational purposes only.
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