The MaineHealth Memorial Hospital Emergency Department provides 24/7 care for urgent and life-threatening illnesses and injuries. MaineHealth Memorial Hospital will not refuse treatment to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay for services.
Advanced emergency care, when it matters most
Our highly experienced emergency department (ED) team is specially trained to quickly assess a wide range of conditions such as heart attack, stroke and broken bones. Patients with serious conditions are stabilized in the emergency department. Some may be admitted to MaineHealth Memorial Hospital or transported to a major trauma or specialty care center such as MaineHealth Maine Medical Center.
Our experienced team is always here for you
Our board-certified emergency physicians work collaboratively with a team of highly skilled advanced practice providers who have extensive experience in providing emergency care. Referrals to specialty care providers are also available when needed, including cardiology, orthopedics, general surgery, ophthalmology, urology, OB/GYN, radiology and oncology.
Our ED nurses and paramedics are all registered professionals with extensive training and experience in emergency care. Our emergency care technicians are trained to recognize critical patient signs and symptoms, do EKGs, draw blood, and conduct other bedside diagnostic tests.
Our emergency department features:
- Modern treatment and exam rooms
- Comfortable patient observation rooms
- Expanded and updated waiting area
- Separate walk-in and ambulance entrances
More about our services
Triage
The ED triage nurse will:
- Assess the severity of your injury or illness
- Ask why you came to the ED
- Ask what medical conditions you have
- Ask what medications you are taking
- Ask if you have any allergies
- Take your temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure
- Ask you to rate any pain you are experiencing on a scale of 0 to 10
- May also order lab tests and or imaging studies
After your assessment, the triage nurse will assign you to a category that will determine what order you will be seen. If you do not need immediate treatment, please be patient. The most seriously ill or injured must be seen first. You may see people who arrived after you receive treatment before you. As soon as possible, you will be taken from the waiting room to an exam room for examination and treatment by an emergency provider.
Treatment or Admission
The physician will create a plan of care that could include medication, diagnostic tests or IVs while you are here. Your primary nurse will initiate care. If necessary, specialists are on call to provide specific services. Based on the assessment and the results of diagnostic tests, you may be admitted to the hospital or discharged with written instructions for you to follow.
After Treatment or Admission
- The ED will inform your primary care physician about your visit. We communicate electronically, which means your test results and documentation are quickly available to any physicians you may visit for follow-up care.
- Patients are encouraged to sign up for MyChart, our secure online patient portal. In case of emergency, dial 911. MyChart should not be used for medical emergencies.
- If you were seen in our ED and would like a copy of your medical records, please follow the instructions on this page.
Emergency care is needed when you have a sudden medical problem that requires immediate hospital care. Anyone can have a medical emergency.
If there is an immediate threat to your health, you should call 911 or go to the ED at the nearest hospital for treatment. Do not drive a car if you are having a medical emergency. Call 911. EMS professionals can start treatment on the way to the hospital.
According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, these are warning signs that you are having a medical emergency:
• Bleeding that will not stop
• Breathing problems
• Change in mental status (unusual behavior, confusion)
• Chest pain
• Choking
• Coughing up blood
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• Feeling like harming yourself or someone else
• Head or spine injury
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Sudden injury such as a car accident, burns or smoke inhalation, near drowning, deep or large wound, etc.
• Sudden, severe pain anywhere in your body
• Sudden dizziness, weakness or change in your vision
• Swallowing a poisonous substance
• Upper abdominal pain or pressure
If you experience any of these problems, call 911 immediately.
Learn more about what types of same-day care are available. If you are having a medical emergency, please call 911.
What kind of care would you want if you became too ill to communicate? Learn more about advance care planning.
From newborns to older adults, primary care providers treat all ages and every generation.
