Skip to Content

Emergency care

Emergency care is the treatment of emergent medical conditions. It is generally performed in an emergency room, but can also refer to treatment in an ambulance. In addition to life-threatening conditions, emergency medicine physicians may treat patients with injuries or infections.

Decorative

Emergency care in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bowling Green, Kentucky

When the unexpected happens, our emergency experts are standing by to help.

TriStar Health's emergency rooms (ERs) focus on accessibility and quality care. We offer chest pain centers and primary stroke centers in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky.

Looking for a location?

View All Specialty Locations

Related specialties

Learn more about our related specialties.

Emergency care services we provide

Our emergency rooms are equipped to handle different kinds of conditions than trauma centers and urgent clinics.

Our emergency care

Our ERs treat serious illnesses and injuries like broken bones, chest pain, lacerations and head injuries. We also have behavioral health teams to provide care for suicidal thoughts or the desire to self-harm.

If you experience any type of traumatic accident, call 911. A paramedic will assess your condition and take you to an emergency room or trauma center.

Pediatric emergency care

You have access to specialized emergency care and resources for children at the pediatric ER at The Children’s Hospital at TriStar Centennial and TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center. However, all of our emergency rooms can treat children's injuries and conditions. Thanks to our network of hospitals, your child will always have access to the level of care needed in an emergency.

Obstetrics and gynecologic emergency care

You can receive care for OB/GYN emergencies at any of our emergency departments, and we also offer a dedicated OB/GYN emergency room that caters to your unique health needs at The Women’s Hospital at TriStar Centennial.

We are staffed 24/7 by hospitalists who can treat your acute OB/GYN conditions. The emergency specialists serve your needs using specialized equipment and clinical expertise.

Types of OB/GYN emergencies

If you have any of the following symptoms or conditions, call your doctor or go to the ER:

  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding
  • Pelvic pain
  • Post-surgery complications
  • Severe breast pain
  • Urinary tract infection

If you are pregnant, call your doctor or go to the emergency room for:

  • Dizziness or bleeding in early pregnancy
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Preterm labor
  • Severe abdominal pain

What to expect at the emergency room

Emergencies are unpredictable, so knowing what you can expect at our hospital when you arrive is vital to your comfort and care.

Triage

Every patient will be individually assessed and treated based on the severity of their illness or injury, allowing our team to focus on patients requiring lifesaving treatment first.

Please be prepared to provide the following information when you arrive:

  • Name and date of birth
  • Driver’s license or other form of identification
  • Reason for visit
Initial assessment

Our emergency specialists initially check your vital signs and may include additional tests to fully understand your medical needs.

Treatment

You will then be moved to an exam room for additional assessment, monitoring and treatment, and if necessary, admittance to the hospital. Once your treatment is complete, the physician will prepare discharge paperwork so you can leave.

Discharge

Before you leave, we will collect payment and insurance information. Your nurse will provide you with written instructions on how to care for yourself when you get home, prescriptions (if applicable) and follow-up treatment if needed. We can also help you schedule a follow-up appointment with a specialist or primary care physicians if needed.

Check emergency room wait times

To help you receive prompt care, we post and update our average ER wait times on our website.

Thrive Blog

Read our blogs to learn about preventive care and ways you can lead a healthier lifestyle.

Simple steps to water safety 

July 15, 2022
TriStar Health encourages you to stay cool while staying safe in and around the water. Check out these steps to learn how.

Simple steps to water safety 

July 15, 2022
TriStar Health encourages you to stay cool while staying safe in and around the water. Check out these steps to learn how.

Summer injuries and illnesses: ER or urgent care? 

June 13, 2022
From heat illnesses to tick bites — knowing whether to go to the emergency room or urgent care could save you time and money this summer.

BE FAST: Know the signs and symptoms of a stroke 

April 28, 2022
May is Stroke Awareness Month, and experts say spotting signs and symptoms could help save someone's life.