Fast Emergency Care!

It’s not always easy to know when your condition is serious. Broken bones hurt, but do they require emergency care? What about abdominal pain? Allergic reactions? If you think your condition requires immediate emergency care, call 911 or go to the nearest Penn emergency room. Unsure? Read below for some guidelines on when to seek emergency care or head to a walk-in clinic or 24-hour urgent care. If you still can’t decide, call or head to a Penn emergency room. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

All of our central Pennsylvania emergency care centers are open 24/7 every day of the year to provide immediate emergency care for you and your family. To reduce costs and keep wait times to a minimum, if you have a non-emergent condition, we invite you to visit any of our QCare walk-in clinics.

While any medical condition can be scary and confusing, typically you only need emergency care if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of a heart attack or stroke; you are losing a lot of blood and can’t stop the bleeding; you have experienced trauma to the head or spine; you have sudden, intense pain; can’t breathe or have a sudden very high temperature. However, these are not the only signs of an emergency medical condition, so if you have any signs that are sudden, severe and worry you, either call 911 or one of our Penn Highlands emergency rooms for advice.

When you have a medical concern that needs to be treated soon but is not a medical emergency or you are not able to see your primary care provider, it’s best to visit a 24 hour urgent care or Penn Highlands QCare walk-in clinics

Emergency doctors use a variety of methods to determine how to provide the best emergency care. They’ll start by asking you a range of questions about the onset of your symptoms and to describe your symptoms and examining you—often they can spot a problem such as heart attack or stroke within seconds. They’ll also ask about your medical history. Often, they’ll order lab tests to check for signs of infection, dehydration and anemia. They also may order an X-ray, ultrasound, or advanced medical imaging, such as a CT scan or PET scan. These tests check for heart problems, broken bones, internal bleeding, kidney stones, appendicitis, and other conditions. Your ER doctor will use all the information gathered from these exams to provide you with a diagnosis and treatment plan for your emergency care.

When visiting any of our Penn emergency rooms, please bring with you:

• A form of identification
• Your insurance card
• A form of payment. We offer convenient payment options including cash, check or credit card. Insurance co-payments can be checked and are due at time of service.

Every insurance plan is different, and we recommend understanding your plan and any restrictions when you secure your insurance rather than waiting to understand your coverage when you need emergency care. Penn Highlands Healthcare accepts most insurance plans. We will bill your insurance directly. All copays and deductibles will apply, and payment will be expected at the time of service.

Penn Highlands Healthcare offers full-service emergency care at each of our central Pennsylvania hospitals. Available 24/7 every day of the year, our ERs are equipped and staffed for complex and critical needs, including life-threatening circumstances ranging from stroke and heart attack to injuries following a traumatic accident.

If you need emergency care, you should be seen in person at a Penn emergency room. For times when you need advice but could benefit from staying home, consider QCareNow. Our virtual care platform gives you 24/7 access to a healthcare provider online so you can get on the fast track to getting better. All you need is a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a webcam. We use the latest video technology to deliver face-to-face care and consultation, without you having to go to a 24 hour urgent care. Learn more about QCareNow and download the app for when you need it.