UTMB Emergency Department

Our promise to you . . . a faster, more streamlined emergency room experience.

We're here to give you the treatment you need, when you need it. UTMB’s Emergency Department is staffed 24/7 by physicians and registered nurses specially trained and certified in emergency medicine. The Department has been redesigned and processes reengineered and streamlined so patients can be seen more efficiently in an effort to decrease patient wait times.

The UTMB Emergency Department is committed to meeting the needs of our patients and providing responsive and efficient patient-centered care. Our success is based upon dedicated physicians, nurses, health care technicians, social workers, and other members of the health care team all collaborating to create a high-performance Emergency Department.

The Emergency Department (ED) houses a wide range of equipment and offers patients ready access to advanced technology, such as CT scans and other diagnostic imaging, along with our comprehensive Stroke Center, Heart Center and Trauma Center. As patients arrive in the ED, they are triaged for treatment. Triage is the process by which individuals are seen based on their need for immediate medical treatment. The ED has implemented innovative strategies to provide high-quality, compassionate patient care, while minimizing wait times.

Following hurricane Ike in 2008, the hospital completed an ED renovation to support high-quality patient care and staff/ physician efficiencies. Their compassion, attention to detail and dedication to patients make this a special place to receive treatment.

What to Expect

When you arrive at the Emergency Department, your condition is evaluated by a nurse. The Emergency Department physician may order tests necessary to diagnose your condition (laboratory, X-rays or other), and if you need specialty treatment, one of our consulting specialists will be called.

Please be prepared to provide pertinent information about your medical history, including medicines you are taking, any allergies and a summary of your past illnesses, injuries and surgeries. This information allows our medical team to give you appropriate treatment.

Visitation Guidelines

Space limitations require that only one family member or guest be allowed in a patient's treatment room at a time. In addition, the emergency department's unique environment---with many high severity cases, high patient volume, and specialized lifesaving procedures---may at times necessitate that family members be asked to remain in the waiting area. When in the patient care area, visitors are asked to always remain at the patient’s bedside. With your consent, our staff will make every effort to keep family members and friends informed of your condition and treatment.