24/7 emergency room (ER) in Ware County

When you or a loved one needs immediate medical attention, you can count on the experienced emergency team at Memorial Satilla Health. Our ER physicians, nurses and support team are trained in emergency medicine and are ready to treat you with the respect and urgency you need.

If you or a loved one is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

ER services we offer

Our ER treats about 45,000 patients annually for occurrences including heart attacks, broken bones and strokes. Experienced emergency physicians, a fully trained support staff, advanced medical lab and imaging technology are all standing by when you and your family need fast medical care.

Our ER has 21 patient exam rooms with immediate access to operating rooms and advanced cardiac monitoring equipment. We also have a Rapid Evaluation Unit (REU) where a physician assistant or family nurse practitioner is available to treat serious conditions that are not life-threatening.

ER diagnostic tests

Our ER physicians order a wide range of tests to help diagnose medical problems and guide treatment decisions. Some of the most commonly ordered tests in the ER include:

  • Arterial blood gas (ABG)
  • Chemistry profile
  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Electrocardiography (EKG)
  • Imaging tests
  • Urine analysis

When to call 911

How do you know when you should call 911? If someone is experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should head to the nearest ER or call 911.

  • Broken bone or serious burn
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Disorientation
  • Fever that will not go down
  • Flu-like symptoms that will not go away
  • Food or insect bite allergy
  • Head injury causing loss of consciousness, seizure or vomiting
  • Heart attack symptoms, such as chest pain; pain in the left shoulder, arm, neck, jaw or back with sweating; shortness of breath, sometimes accompanied by nausea
  • Seizures
  • Severe bleeding
  • Severe diarrhea
  • Severe headache
  • Sudden numbness or weakness of arms, legs or one side of the face
  • Sudden speech difficulties or trouble seeing
  • Unexpected dizziness or excruciating headache

Consult-A-Nurse® helpline

If you aren't experiencing any of the symptoms above or aren't sure if you should go to the ER, Consult-A-Nurse® can help you make the decision. Consult-A-Nurse® is our free, 24-hour information line staffed by registered nurses available to answer any questions you may have and provide medical advice.

To talk with somebody from our Consult-A-Nurse® team, call (800) 352-6762.

What to expect at the ER

Triage is the first service you will receive as a patient in the ER. A nurse will do an initial exam. This includes taking your blood pressure, temperature and pulse. These simple steps give us insight into your medical condition. It will also help us identify patients who need to see a doctor right away and those whose condition is not as critical.

To reach our ER waiting room, please call (912) 287-2731.

Whether you are a patient or are accompanying a patient, we encourage you to leave children with a responsible adult rather than bring them to the ER. Both parents may accompany their child 12 years old or younger into the treatment area, but older patients can only be accompanied by one family member.

Your emergency care team

The ER has physicians, physician assistants (PAs) and family nurse practitioners (FNPs) on staff. Often, patients with less severe problems are seen by a PA or FNP. If you would rather be seen by a physician, let your nurse know, and we will accommodate you. Please note, this could increase your wait time.

Getting to the ER

The emergency entrance at our hospital is located off of Alice Street. When coming to the ER, you can park in the reserved parking area for emergency room patients.