Emergency Medicine

In a medical emergency, dial 911.

Open 24 hours a day, every day, the Emergency Departments at all four UHS hospitals offer high-quality medical services delivered by physicians and nurses trained in emergency and trauma medicine. These emergency medical departments are equipped to handle situations ranging from acute medical and surgical emergencies to other urgent illnesses and injuries. UHS Wilson Medical Center is also a New York state designated area trauma center and stroke center.

Is a Walk-In Center an option?

• For minor illnesses and injuries, UHS operates several Walk-In Centers that are appropriate for acute illnesses that aren’t life threatening.
• Click here to view a quick reference guide that may help you decide where to go for care.

Tips While Going to the Hospital

If you’re heading to a hospital emergency department, here are some tips:

• Bring a list of all medications with you. This should include all prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, herbs and any supplements you take. Be sure you know each item’s name, dosage (how much you take) and schedule (how often you take them).
• If you don’t have a list of your medications, bring the prescription/medicine bottles with you.
• Bring a list of any allergies you have to medications, tape, food, latex and environmental sources. Be sure you know what type of reaction you have to these.
• Know your medical and surgical history, especially any life-threatening illnesses or injuries and any major surgeries.
• Know who your primary care physician is.
• Bring your health insurance cards/information.
• Don’t have anything else to eat or drink until after you’ve been seen by the triage nurse, and only if she/he says you can eat or drink following this assessment.

What you can expect at our emergency departments

When you come to the emergency department at any UHS hospital, a triage nurse will assess your condition. Please understand that we treat the most seriously ill/injured patients first.