Emergency Services
The University of Kansas Health System has 4 emergency department locations to provide high-level emergency care to adult and pediatric patients. Our care teams, including doctors, registered nurses, advanced practice providers and other specially trained staff, are available 24 hours a day to treat patients seeking emergency medical care.
Our emergency department teams stand ready to provide patient care for a wide range of concerns, including broken bones, pain, fevers and allergic reactions, to critically ill patients experiencing heart attack, stroke or trauma.
We assess each patient's vital signs and condition promptly upon arrival at the ED. Patients may not be seen in the order of arrival as we address the most urgent medical needs first. To help reduce waiting time and speed up the process for noncritical events, we established a rapid evaluation, assessment and treatment area, or REACT.
39th and Rainbow Campus
The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, is the region’s most experienced nationally verified Level 1 Trauma Center, having maintained Level 1 Trauma Center status since 2000. The multidisciplinary care team specializes in caring for high-acuity patients with complex, multisystem injuries.
- Level 1 Trauma Center
- Emergency General Surgery-verified center
- MBSAQIP-accredited bariatric surgery center
- Regional adult and pediatric burn center
- Certified chest pain center
- Advanced comprehensive stroke center
Our highly trained trauma surgeons are on site 24/7. These specialists are dual board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care with special interest in trauma care and remain prepared to provide the most advanced and comprehensive care to critically injured patients. Our 39th and Rainbow location was one of the nation’s first 5 hospitals to be recognized by the American College of Surgeons Emergency General Surgery Verification Program.
Olathe Campus
The University of Kansas Health System Olathe Campus offers a full-service Emergency Department with doctors, registered nurses, advanced practice providers and specialty providers on site 24 hours a day. The Olathe hospital is an advanced primary stroke center and certified chest pain center to provide the highest level of care.
- Advanced primary stroke center
- Certified chest pain center
Paola Campus
The University of Kansas Health System Paola Campus offers a Level IV trauma center with clinical staff on site 24 hours a day, including board-certified emergency and family medicine providers. The full-service Emergency Department treats adult and pediatric patients with lab, imaging and surgical care available 24 hours a day. Paola Hospital is certified Emergent Stroke Ready.
- Level IV Trauma Center
- Emergent Stroke Ready (ESR)
- 24/7 lab and imaging
Great Bend Campus
The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus is a Level IV trauma center with clinical staff on site 24 hours a day. The full-service Emergency Department cares for patients of all ages. Lab, imaging, surgical and orthopedic care are available 24 hours a day, with availability for ultrasound. Our teams are highly trained and prepared to provide trauma care, burn care, pediatric emergency care, and stroke and cardiac care.
- Level IV Trauma Center
- Clinical staff 24/7
Time-critical diagnosis
Experience counts when minutes matter. Our emergency and trauma teams partner with regional EMS professionals who are an essential part of our emergency and trauma teams. Emergency responders begin care and activate the appropriate rapid response team while they're on the way to our hospital. Doctors and nurses across The University of Kansas Health System are ready 24/7 to support a full spectrum of care for critical patients.
Together, we are equipped to care for time-critical diagnoses that include:
Time lost is brain lost. Strokes are the No. 1 cause of long-term disability and among the leading causes of death in the US. Stroke is treatable if you and your doctors act quickly. We have the resources, staff and training to provide the highest quality care for stroke patients.
The deadliest form of heart attack, STEMI (ST-elevated myocardial infarction), requires prompt, advanced care. Our highly trained, dedicated heart attack team works together with EMS professionals, who can activate our STEMI team from the ambulance or helicopter. This greatly increases your chances of survival.
Doctors and nurses provide comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care for patients with complex burns and wounds. Our 39th and Rainbow campus is the region’s only adult and pediatric burn care facility accredited by the American Burn Association and American College of Surgeons. Our multidisciplinary burn care team comprises board-certified plastic surgeons, general surgeons, internal medicine specialists, dermatologists, nurses, physical therapists, nutritionists and other medical professionals.
Emergency versus urgent care
If you have any doubts about your or a loved one's injury or condition, don't hesitate. Call 911 immediately.
When you need to see a doctor right away but don't require a trip to the emergency department, urgent care offers convenient hours, locations and telehealth options. Nonemergency conditions may include:
- Coughs
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms
- Headaches
- Minor injuries
- Rashes
- Respiratory difficulties associated with asthma and allergies
- Sore throats
- Vomiting
Poison Center
Our Poison Center provides information on all types of poison, including poisonous chemicals, plants and venomous snakes. We're available 24/7 from anywhere in the state of Kansas and throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. Call our hotline at 800-222-1222.
Advanced trauma care saves lives
A motorcycle accident left Jake Moore clinging to life. The trauma care, orthopedics and neurosciences specialists at the region's most experienced Level I Trauma Center collaborated to help Jake make a dramatic recovery.
Read Jake's story