Emergency care

Our newly remodeled and expanded emergency room is designed and equipped to provide you with high-quality care. Our services include:

• 24/7 diagnostic laboratory services
• 84 private beds
• Check-in electronic kiosk system
• Dedicated X-ray and computerized tomography (CT)
• Emergency helicopter landing pad
• Fast track area with 10 treatment rooms
• Leading-edge Level I Trauma Center
• Paramedic base station with a dedicated entrance
• Revamped blood draw process to expedite diagnosis and treatment

We are centrally located off the 91 or 60 freeway in downtown Riverside, California. You can text ER to 32222 for to find out the average emergency room wait time. Message and data rates may apply. Visit our webpage to learn more.

Our nationally recognized and accredited Chest Pain Center is home to a highly skilled team of medical specialists who provide the latest treatments for cardiac conditions, including heart attack.

We hold The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval and the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Primary Heart Attack Center Certification. The Riverside County EMS Agency has also designated our hospital as an ST-Elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) receiving center, which means we treat individuals with the most severe type of heart attack.

Signs of heart attack

Heart attacks occur when the blood vessels leading to the heart are blocked, resulting in less blood and oxygen reaching the heart muscle. Signs of a heart attack include:

• Chest discomfort
  • Fullness
  • Pain
  • Squeezing
  • Uncomfortable pressure
• Discomfort or pain in other areas of the upper body
  • Back
  • Jaw
  • Neck
  • One or both arms
  • Stomach
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating

Women are more likely to experience symptoms other than chest pain. Common heart attack symptoms in women include:

• Abdominal discomfort
• Indigestion
• Nausea
• Pain under the breastbone
• Unexplained fatigue

If you notice the above symptoms in yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately.

Our leading-edge stroke treatment is performed by a multidisciplinary stroke team of doctors and nurses. We have implemented an acute stroke protocol to ensure efficient evaluation and treatment of your symptoms.

We are proud to be certified by DNV GL Healthcare as a Comprehensive Stroke Center and recognized by The American Heart Association for excellence in stroke care.

Signs of stroke

It's important to know the signs of stroke and seek emergency care immediately if symptoms appear. If you suspect a stroke is occurring, remember the acronym: B.E. F.A.S.T.

• Balance — Does the person have a sudden loss of balance?
• Eye — Has the person lost vision in one or both eyes?
• Face — Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• Arms — Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech — Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Is the person confused? Can they repeat the sentence correctly?
• Terrible headache — A sudden and severe headache often described as the worst headache you’ve ever had.

Call 911 if you or someone you know suddenly shows any of these symptoms.

For over 15 years, our emergency department has offered the most expansive Level I Trauma Center in Southern California. On average, we provide services to more than 3,000 traumatically injured people annually. Through our partnerships with paramedics and air ambulance teams, we are a reliable, regional resource for people in need of trauma care in the Inland Empire.

As a Level I Trauma Center, we provide the following services:

• 24/7 in-house trauma surgeon availability
• 69-bed intensive care unit
• Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) availability
• Diagnostic services, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Dedicated trauma resuscitation rooms
• Graduate medical education (GME) programs in multiple surgical and medical residencies
• Regional leadership in injury prevention and public education
• Research program that advances trauma care and best practices
• State-of-the-art blood bank

Trauma care providers

We offer advanced specialty care provided by orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons and interventional radiologists. Your compassionate trauma team may also include:

• Chaplains
• Neurosurgeons
• Orthopedic surgeons
• Vascular surgeons
• Occupational therapists
• Physical therapists
• Speech therapists
• Plastic surgeons
• Respiratory therapists
• Rehabilitation specialists
• Case managers
• Social workers
• Trauma nurses
• Trauma surgeons
• Critical care nurses
• Critical care physicians