Emergency Care
When you have an injury or illness, we are prepared to provide you with expert compassionate care. We treat all levels of illness and injury, including the most critical. Our emergency departments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to treat people of all ages. When needed, our emergency medicine teams work closely with other medical and surgical specialists to coordinate the best plan of care for you. If you're having an emergency and need immediate care, call 911 or visit the emergency department.
What Type of Appointment Do I Need?
Primary Care encompasses the comprehensive treatment of a number of diseases in symptoms and specialties including pediatrics, internal medicine and family medicine. Rather than specializing in one particular area of medicine, the physician is trained to meet all the needs of patients as one point of contact. Examples of symptoms and conditions treated by a primary care provider can include:
- Minor medical problems and injuries
- Physicals/Sports Physicals
- Medicine Checks
- Long Term Care
- Medication Refill
- Ongoing Symptoms (ex: Continued Back Pain)
- Care or Treatment Planning
- Disease Management
- Managing Existing Conditions (Migraines, Depression, Anxiety, Arthritis, etc.)
- Substance Abuse
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes and obesity
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Skin problems
Urgent Care and Express treat minor medical problems and injuries that are not life-threatening, but need the attention of a health care provider. These are not an alternative to the emergency room, but offer the ability to get care without an appointment for all patient ages. Urgent Care is available after hours, weekends and holidays. Our Urgent Care Clinics can provide medical treatment for minor illness and injuries such as:
- Allergies
- Burns
- Colds
- Coughs
- Cuts (stitches)
- Earaches or ear infections
- Fevers
- Minor medical problems and injuries
- Minor eye care
- Flu
- Fractures (x-ray on-site at most locations)
- Infections
- Sore throats
- Sprains, including sprained ankles (x-ray on-site at most locations)
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
- Yeast Infections
- Certain rapid tests
Please note: Flu shots and physicals and/or sports physicals need to be scheduled with your primary care provider.
*If you are experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath, please go to the Emergency Department or call 911 immediately. For less serious medical issues, such as physicals, medication refills or to leave a message for your primary care doctor, you can access your My UnityPoint patient portal 24/7!
Connect with a UnityPoint Health provider online using MyUnityPoint to access virtual urgent care or SmartExam. Virtual care doctors can diagnose, recommend treatment and prescribe medication when necessary. Available every day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for individuals 18 years and older located in the state of Iowa
Emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for severe or life-threatening conditions. Conditions that require ER care include excessive bleeding, broken bones, chest pain or trouble breathing. Emergency services include diagnostic testing and access to specialists.
Intensive Care Units (ICU)
If your emergency situation requires hospitalization, the Intensive Care Units in our hospitals provide critical care services for acutely ill patients. This specially designed area brings the best in technology, facilities and professional, compassionate staff together to care for patients who need constant, critical monitoring. Find a hospital to learn more about ICU facilities near you.
Trauma Centers
Trauma centers are usually located within the emergency department. Trauma centers handle the extreme cases where there is an issue of immediate survival. Highly-specialized surgeons work with the most advanced equipment to increase the likelihood of survival in the patients that are sent there. Learn more on our trauma services page.
Air Ambulance Services
Our LifeFlight and Life Guard programs provide quality, rapid air transport for critically-ill and injured patients. The ability to stabilize and transport patients as quickly as possible is critical, which is why our air ambulance crew can be instrumental during life-threatening situations. In addition to providing transport from an emergency scene, our team also transports between hospitals if a patient is in need of specialized medical or surgical treatment. Learn more about our air ambulance services by choosing a location.