Is this a medical emergency?
A medical emergency is any condition that could cause death or permanent harm if not treated quickly. Some examples of possible medical emergencies are listed in the box on the right.
Examples of Possible Medical Emergencies
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When you're not sure if it's an emergency
We would never be able to list every single kind of medical emergency. If you're not sure whether someone needs to go to the emergency room, you can call their doctor's office for advice. You can also call the HealthCare Hotline at UTMB in Galveston.
UTMB HealthCare Hotline:
(409) 772-2222 or (800) 917-8906
If you think the person has a life-threatening condition, Call 911 right away!
What if it's not an emergency?
You would certainly want to be in an emergency room (ER) if you had been in a bad car wreck or were having a heart attack. But if it is not an emergency, the ER is never the best place to go for medical care. If you were to decide to visit the ER you will most likely have to wait a long time. Emergency rooms use what is called a triage system (tree'-ah-j) to decide the order in which patients are seen. Triage means that patients with the most serious problems are treated first. So if you have a medical problem that is not an emergency, you are better off going to a clinic or your doctor's office. In addition, a clinic or your doctor's office is much cheaper than a trip to an emergency room.
There are several clinics in Galveston County where people can go to get medical care for problems that are not emergencies.
Is this a medical emergency?
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