Emergency medical services in Tyler, TX
When there’s an emergency, you deserve fast, effective emergency medical care. At UT Health Tyler, our emergency room (ER) stands ready to provide comprehensive 24/7 emergency care at a moment’s notice. Our emergency care physicians are able to respond to any type of medical emergency – from the most serious life-threatening cases like stroke and heart attack down to broken bones, severe infections, and lacerations. No matter your needs, we are here to provide exceptional emergency care you and your loved ones can depend on.
Level I trauma center
UT Health Tyler is home to the region’s only Level 1 trauma center, as designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services. That means we have the resources and staff to respond to diverse medical needs, such as mass casualty and trauma events, severe burns, head injuries, heart attacks, and strokes. Studies show that receiving treatment at a Level 1 trauma center increases a seriously injured patient’s chances of survival by an estimated 20 to 25 percent.
Features of our Level 1 trauma center include:
- 24-hour in-house coverage by general surgeons, and prompt availability of care in specialties such as orthopedic surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, internal medicine, neurosurgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pediatrics and critical care
- Caregivers are continually educated on the latest advances in trauma care.
- Comprehensive quality assessment program.
- Leadership in trauma prevention and education.
- Referral resources for communities across the region
- Research and education programs.
- Substance abuse screening and patient intervention
In addition, UT Health Tyler is designated a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and has been designated an Accredited Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI by the American College of Cardiology.
What to expect at our ER
Upon arrival, each patient undergoes a process called triage. This process, conducted by our triage nurses at the front desk, categorizes patients based on the severity of their conditions into immediately life-threatening, urgent but not life-threatening, and less urgent.
Our ER wait times typically fall below the national average, but it’s important to understand that these times can vary greatly depending on what’s happening at our ER that day. Our primary focus in the ER is to save lives, so if a patient with a life-threatening condition arrives, they may be prioritized. This approach is different from that of urgent care or standard medical appointments, as our ER operates on a need-based system rather than a first-come-first-serve basis.
After triage, the check-in process includes an assessment of your vital signs. Then an emergency medicine physician will delve deeper into your condition. This stage often involves coordinating with multiple specialists, such as radiologists, general surgeons, neurologists, gastroenterologists, and others who contribute remotely by analyzing diagnostic reports and advising our emergency team.
In terms of treatment outcomes, you may be admitted for further care, discharged with instructions, referred to a primary care physician, or transferred to another facility. Our ER focuses on treating emergent, urgent, and traumatic conditions and does not typically prescribe narcotics for chronic issues.
Our EMS and AIR 1 team
When an emergency happens and seconds count, the men and women of UT Health East Texas EMS and AIR 1 answer the call. Each ambulance and emergency helicopter features Pulsara, an advanced mobile communication technology to track heart and stroke patients in real time before, during and after arrival at the emergency room. Every second saved during an emergency, improves the likelihood of a life saved.
Extended-hours clinic, ER, and primary care at South Broadway
The emergency department on South Broadway is an extension of the UT Health Tyler emergency department, making emergency care more convenient for south Tyler residents. The facility houses a 24-hours ER, an extended-hours walk-in clinic, family medicine clinic and access to advanced technology, such as CT scans and other diagnostic imaging. Our after-hours clinic is open seven days a week and sees walk-in patients who have non-emergency conditions. Patients with nausea and vomiting, cuts and scrapes, cold symptoms, sinus pain, sprains or strains, or sore throat symptoms are encouraged to seek care at our after-hours clinic.
Our extended clinic hours are:
- Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m.
If a higher level of care is needed, patients will be transferred to the Level 1 trauma center at UT Health Tyler.
Our South Broadway location also includes a family medicine clinic. Here, our team of physicians provide primary care to patients of all ages. Patients can receive a variety of services at the clinic, including yearly physicals, vaccinations, treatment of chronic conditions, and care for acute conditions like strep, flu, and viruses.
Our family medicine clinic hours are:
Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
To schedule an appointment, Please call 903-579-2700. UT Health East Texas is an in-network provider for Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance plans.
