Emergency Medical
Services
For critical illnesses and traumatic injuries
If you have a serious or life-threatening emergency, please dial 9-1-1.
Trust your emergency care to Knoxville Hospital & Clinics
We know that a trip to the Emergency Department can be frightening. At Knoxville Hospital & Clinics, we strive to ensure that our patients and their families receive the very best care in a timely manner with the compassion, respect, and privacy that they deserve.
Knoxville Hospital & Clinics’ Emergency Department is open 24-hours a day, every day of the year, to provide emergency care to persons suffering from critical illnesses and traumatic injuries. We care for more than 7,000 patients per year.
Staffed with highly skilled, board-certified physicians and physician assistants, our Emergency Department staff works in close collaboration with a variety of specialists, including Laboratory, Imaging, Pharmacy, as well as Surgery professionals. Our nurses are specially trained and certified in trauma and emergency services for both adults and children.
We are proud to provide a newly redesigned Emergency Department for our patients and staff.
Renovations and expansions include a new admitting and waiting area, trauma bays, private treatment rooms, and staff support space.
Take a walk through the Emergency Department with Knoxville Hospital & Clinics CEO Kevin Kincaid and see the progress.
What We Offer
We offer the latest in diagnostic Imaging technology, including CT scanning and MRI. Our Emergency Department is also able to call upon the extensive resources of specialty physicians for a wide variety of medical specialties such as Orthopaedic care, Dermatology, Pain Management, General Surgery, and more.
MercyOne Air, one of Iowa’s premier air ambulances, has one of its three helicopters based at the local municipal airport – just minutes away from our Emergency Department. The immediate availability and rapid response time are all assets to our community’s health. In addition, our Emergency Department has an established relationship with Knoxville Fire and EMS personnel who are able to provide highly trained paramedic service for ambulance transfers to higher levels of care when necessary.
What to expect at our ER
Our health care professionals make every effort to serve patients as quickly as possible while also providing the highest quality of care. We see patients in order of acuity and based on the extent of their injuries. If you need to wait, please tell the triage nurse at once if your condition changes and you feel worse.
Patient Transfers
Knoxville Hospital & Clinics is a Critical Access Hospital, which means we provide first-line treatment for Emergency patients. We play a crucial role in stabilizing patients and coordinating transfers for patients who need a higher level of care. We can expedite a transfer for patients to the MercyOne-Des Moines facility via the MercyOne helicopter where in a matter of minutes, patients are in their trusted hands.
When an illness or injury strikes, will you know where to go for care?
If you or a loved one is suddenly sick or injured, you many wonder if you should see your doctor or go to the Emergency Department. But depending on your medical issue, the ER may not be your best choice.
According to the Emergency Department manager, a good rule of thumb is if you fear the situation is life-threatening or severe enough to cause permanent damage, call 911 or go to the Emergency Department. If not, try to make an appointment with your primary care provider. They generally keep some appointments open in case one of their patients has an unexpected injury or illness. If you can’t get an appointment with your regular doctor or if it’s after hours, Urgent Care is available at Knoxville Hospital & Clinics Monday-Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
No one is denied care in the Emergency Department based on his or her ability to pay. The cost to the patient and the patient’s insurance company is least when seeking care in your primary care clinic and most expensive in the Emergency Department. The cost is substantially higher if you make a trip to the Emergency Department instead. Plus, your co-pay will likely be lower at primary care or Urgent Care than that at the Emergency Department.
