No one schedules an emergency, but if you have one our team is ready to respond
The Utah Valley Hospital Emergency Department is located on the east side of the hospital, along 300 West, and is open 24 hours a day. We are the only Level II Trauma Center south of Salt Lake County where all nurses are trained in adult and pediatric trauma care. We're also the only Utah County Emergency Department with round-the-clock coverage of all major medical specialties including neurosurgical, orthopedic, plastic, and general surgery.
Our Emergency Department provides 24-hour treatment, seven days a week, for patients of all ages, and all types of acute medical and trauma conditions, including emergent trauma injuries. All Emergency Department physicians are board certified in emergency medicine. Additionally, Utah Valley Hospital is a Joint Commission Certified stroke and cardiac receiving facility.
For the critically ill, the emergency department is a great resource to the community because we are able to perform diagnostic testing in a matter of hours, that may take traditional physicians days or weeks to complete.
An average ED stay (not waiting room time) is 3-5 hours. A visit may be more or less depending on the tests and plan of care the physician chooses for each patient. Circumstances such as critical patients who come to the ED unexpectedly or a large volume of patients can increase the length of your visit.
Radiology, labs, or any other tests done in the ED take an hour or more to complete. All tests must be completed before the physician can interpret and determine an appropriate plan of care. Every test a physician adds to the initial plan of care increases the length of your visit. If admitted, it can take 1-2 hours to consult with the admitting physician, have the admitting physician evaluate your condition, and receive a bed on the appropriate floor of the hospital.
Some patients may be seen before you, even if they arrived after you did. After the triage nurse assesses each person, he or she makes a determination regarding the severity of each patient. Patients in the ED are seen by the severity of their symptoms and vital signs and not by wait time. We understand this process can increase/change your wait time and we appreciate your patience. If your condition worsens, please notify the nursing staff.
In the ED, we may need to do tests/procedures to rule out various illnesses. Some of these tests require patients to have an empty stomach. If you'd like to eat/drink something while you wait, please talk with an ED staff member prior to doing so.
If you need to use the restroom while in the waiting room, please notify a staff member. The staff may want to collect a sample. If you are in a room, please push your call light button and a staff member will assist you to the bathroom.
If you have a cough, fever, or any flu-like symptoms, we ask that you wear a mask. By wearing a mask, you protect others from being exposed to illness.
Medications can have many adverse side effects and require that patients be watched closely on a monitor. These medications can cause nausea and vomiting, lower oxygen levels, decrease respiratory rate, or cause dizziness and disorientation. We refrain from giving pain medication for your safety. After a provider evaluates you, he or she will be able to give you appropriate medication and you will be closely monitored for side effects.
In the ED, we strive to keep each patient comfortable. Items we can provide at any time during your visit to help address your pain include:
Medication and other comfort measures provided in the ED may not get rid of the pain completely. We can’t guarantee you’ll be pain free during your stay, but we’ll do all that we can to help make you feel more comfortable.
During your stay, you'll see many staff members. Each caregiver wears something different.
All of our doctors are board-certified emergency medicine physicians. They can run a variety of tests and procedures in an effort to determine what is causing your symptoms. Occasionally, they’re unable to figure out an exact cause. In these instances, you’ll be asked to follow up with a physician after leaving the ED to continue the process of diagnosis and treatment. It’s extremely important that you follow ED discharge instructions.
Utah Valley Hospital is home to an Intermountain Life Flight medical helicopter 24 hours a day. Through Life Flight, we are able to transport patients and bring highly specialized emergency equipment and medical personnel to remote areas or accident scenes where time is of the essence.
Our Life Flight crews consist of highly trained nurses, paramedics, respiratory therapists and physicians who provide patients with the best possible care during transport.
Our intensive care unit provides specialized medical care to patients who may be in a potentially life-threatening condition. Located on the 2nd floor of the West Building, each room is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, and patients are cared for by a specialized medical team.
Phone calls concerning a patient's condition will be directed to the patient's family members or to a spokesperson designated by the family at the time the patient is admitted. A large waiting room is available just outside the unit where family members and other visitors can comfortably wait between visits.
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If this is an emergency please go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.