When you need emergency care, St. Mary’s has the staff, experience and technology to help, from sprained ankles to heart attacks and strokes.

• Open 24/7, including holidays and weekends
• Located at 1230 Baxter St., Athens
• Part of St. Mary’s Hospital and our full continuum of care
• Most major insurance plans, Medicaid and Medicare accepted

The physicians, nurses and ancillary staff at St. Mary’s Emergency Department are uniquely qualified to provide care in an emergency setting. Working together and with new technologies available at St. Mary’s, this team is able to do more for critically ill people than ever before. We can handle hundreds of emergency conditions, including heart attack, stroke, breathing problems, hypo- and hyperglycemia, broken bones, severe bleeding and spinal injuries.

How do I access care?

• In a medical emergency, dial 911.
• It can be very dangerous to drive to the hospital when you or a loved one is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency. Call 911 instead.
• If you suspect heart attack or stroke, do not wait: call 911 immediately. In a medical emergency, every minute counts.
• For emergencies that are not life-threatening, please drive to St. Mary’s Emergency Department entrance under the drive-through canopy. Once inside, go to the registration area first and then follow directions to be seen by the triage nurse.
• Note: hospital emergency departments should NOT be used for routine care, such as treatment of ear aches, sore throats or colds. If your condition does not require urgent care, please see your regular physician.

When should I seek emergency care?

• Anytime you or someone you are with experiences symptoms that might signal a medical emergency, such as severe bleeding, chest pain, sudden paralysis on one side of the body, or loss of consciousness
• Anytime you are concerned symptoms may indicate a problem which, if not treated promptly, could lead to death or disability
• Anytime pain is unbearable

What if I’m not sure it’s a medical emergency?

Symptoms are not always clear, even for conditions such as heart attack and stroke. When in doubt, come to the Emergency Department.

How long will it take for me to see a doctor?

St. Mary’s uses a triage system in its Emergency Department. That means patients with the most urgent needs are seen first. We strive to make sure everyone who arrives in our Emergency Department sees a triage nurse within minutes. After that, we do everything we can to make your visit as quick and pleasant as possible.

Does St. Mary’s provide heart attack care?

Yes. We have high-tech diagnostics and the latest in drug therapies and interventional cardiology, including 24/7 activation capability of our cardiac catheterization team.

Does your Emergency Department accept my insurance?

St. Mary’s is an in-network provider for most insurance plans offered in the Athens area and participates in Medicare and Medicaid. Most insurance companies allow you to seek emergency care at the closest emergency department, even if the hospital is not a member of their network. If you are uninsured, St. Mary’s will work with you to make sure you receive the care you need, regardless of your ability to pay.

St. Mary’s is Joint Commission certified as a

• Primary Stroke Center
• Heart Failure Center
• Knee Replacement Surgery Center
• Center for Advanced Inpatient Diabetes Care