Duke University Hospital: Emergency Room

As a Level 1 trauma center, our medical teams care for children and adults with complex traumatic injuries including falls, motor vehicle accidents and gunshot wounds. As a regional referral center, sick and injured people with extensive medical needs are transported here through Duke LifeFlight and other emergency transport services, from an accident scene, or after assessment at their community hospital.

Wait Times

Wait times are a concern in any emergency department.  How quickly one is seen is dependent on many factors. During peak emergency times, an emergency department provider is stationed at the emergency room registration area to perform a medical screening exam and initiate care upon patients’ arrival.

Read more: 9 facts about emergency care

Additional Emergency Department Areas

• Our child-friendly pediatric area is staffed by an expert team of pediatric emergency medicine specialists and nurses.
• The clinical evaluation/observation unit is for people who need medical observation but do not require inpatient admission.
• The fast track /SPEED area treats people with minor illnesses or injuries.
• The psychiatric area is for people with mental illness-related emergencies.

Heart and Stroke Care

• As a Comprehensive Stroke Center, we are trained in the latest procedures and technology, and offer the highest level of specialized stroke care from the second you arrive in the emergency room.
• Our efforts to improve cardiac care include an emergency response protocol for heart attack that ensures patients receive life-saving treatment as quickly as possible.

Urgent Care

If you need medical attention that is not life-threatening, please visit one of our conveniently located urgent care clinics or you can reserve your spot online. 

Read more: Should you go to urgent care? 

For questions about the following, please visit:

• Duke My Chart to make follow up appointments and access portions of your medical record
• Understanding your bill for questions about your bill and payment options
• Patient and visitor relations to submit a suggestion, concern or compliment