Emergency room or urgent care?

With the expansion of urgent care settings, many wonder if they should go to an emergency room or the urgent care setting. The difference between an urgent care and emergency room is the severity of the health problem. If the condition is life-threatening, go to an emergency room. If the condition is a minor illness or injury, go to an urgent care setting.

Conditions that require an ER visit:

• Broken bones
• Chest pain
• Coughing up or vomiting blood
• Difficulty breathing
• Head trauma
• Illnesses that progress in severity and progress quickly
• Loss of vision
• Major life or limb injuries
• Poisoning
• Severe asthma attack
• Severe bleeding
• Severe burns
• Severe and sudden onset of headaches
• Severe wounds or amputations
• Shortness of breath
• Signs of a heart attack
• Signs of a stroke
• Feelings of suicide or endangering the lives of others.

Always call 911 when experiencing many of the symptoms listed above. If the symptom you are experiencing is not listed and you are unsure, go to an emergency room or call 911.

Conditions that are appropriate for an urgent care setting:

• Allergies - an allergic reaction may require an ER
• Back pain
• Bumps, cuts and scrapes
• Cold or flu symptoms
• Cough or sore throat
• Eye irritations
• Fever - an ER may be more appropriate for infants and toddlers
• Mild asthma
• Minor allergic reaction
• Minor burns
• Minor fractures
• Minor headaches
• Rashes
• Sinus infections
• Sprains and strains
• Urinary tract infections

If in doubt of the appropriate level of care, call your physician or 911, or go to the closest emergency room.

Saint Clare’s provides comprehensive emergency services to all patients. Our Emergency Department is staffed by Board Certified Physicians with extensive training in Emergency Medicine as well as Certified Physician Assistants. Our Nursing staff consists of highly trained and Certified Emergency Nurses and Emergency Department technicians. Saint Clare’s is proud to have State-Certified Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s), as part of our Mobile Intensive Care units (MICU’s) who respond to locations within our region in case of an emergency. Our Paramedics work alongside local first aid squads to provide advanced life support in patient’s homes, in the workplace, or on the road. We also feature Specialty Care Transport units (SCTU) that staff a highly trained RN and an EMT-B who provide critical care transport.

Denville Emergency Department Phone Number: 973-625-6063

Hours of operation 24 hours a day 7 days a week

In case of Emergency call 911

Psychiatric Emergency Services

Psychiatric Emergency Services provides prompt assessment, crisis intervention and referrals for people in crisis. The service is available 24 hours a day.

Denville Psychiatric Emergency Department Phone Number: 973-625-0280

Hours of operation 24 hours a day 7 days a week

Geriatric Emergency Department

Saint Clare’s provides comprehensive care for the growing geriatric community. Our collaborative, multi-disciplinary team is dedicated to providing high quality, compassionate care to our geriatric patients to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and future Emergency Department visits. Saint Clare’s will also provide an array of services to support these patients and their family members allowing for a safer return home.

Pediatric Services

Our Emergency Departments provides pediatric services to the population we serve. Our Denville Campus always has a Pediatrician available in the building at all times. Our Emergency Department nurses have specialized training to care for children and adolescents.

Cardiovascular Services

Saint Clare's Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) can transmit a patient's EKG directly to any of our Saint Clare’s Emergency Department. With this valuable test, Emergency Physicians, Cardiac interventionists and clinical staff can often make diagnosis before the patient reaches our hospital, saving valuable time, and receiving emergency cardiovascular services.

If you feel you may be having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Awards and Recognition

Saint Clare’s is dedicated to providing our patients with high quality, compassionate care. We are proud to be recognized by the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program for our excellence in improving quality of patient care. In 2015 our Denville Campus was the recipient of the Mission: Lifeline Bronze Plus Award.

Saint Clare’s provides comprehensive emergency services to all patients. Our Emergency Department is staffed by Board Certified Physicians with extensive training in Emergency Medicine as well as Certified Physician Assistants. Our Nursing staff consists of highly trained and Certified Emergency Nurses and Emergency Department technicians. Saint Clare’s is proud to have State-Certified Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s), as part of our Mobile Intensive Care units (MICU’s) who respond to locations within our region in case of an emergency. Our Paramedics work alongside local first aid squads to provide advanced life support in patient’s homes, in the workplace, or on the road. We also feature Specialty Care Transport units (SCTU) that staff a highly trained RN and an EMT-B who provide critical care transport.

Dover Emergency Department Phone Number: 973-989-3200

Hours of operation 24 hours a day 7 days a week

In case of Emergency call 911

Geriatric Emergency Department

Saint Clare’s provides comprehensive care for the growing geriatric community. Our collaborative, multi-disciplinary team is dedicated to providing high quality, compassionate care to our geriatric patients to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and future Emergency Department visits. Saint Clare’s will also provide an array of services to support these patients and their family members allowing for a safer return home.

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) department of Saint Clare's Health System is committed to providing fast and compassionate emergency care to the people and communities of northwest New Jersey. Our staff strives to be the pre-hospital healthcare provider of choice in the communities that we serve. Utilizing state-of-art equipment, including one of the newest ambulance fleets in the region, and staff with experience, we strive to exceed expectations while remaining a cost effective solution to your medical transportation needs. For 24-hour service around the clock, call our dispatch center at (973) 537-5636.

Saint Clare’s is transforming part of our Emergency Department to provide specialized, senior-centered care.
With the aging population in our community and having older adults accounting for more than 25% of all our emergency visits, Saint Clare’s is transforming part of our Emergency Department to best serve these patients. We are enhancing our operation to provide a standardized guideline of care and specialized protocols are being implemented to help the geriatric patient. Our collaborative, multi-disciplinary team is dedicated to expedite an elderly patient’s discharge, avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and/or future Emergency Department visits. Saint Clare’s will also provide an array of services to support these patients and their family members allowing for a safer return home. Saint Clare’s has eight designated rooms in the Denville and Dover EDs for geriatric emergencies. To enhance safety and comfort, these rooms have: safety devices to prevent falls, pressure-reducing mattresses, large clocks, dim lighting capability, warmer rooms for comfort, and reading magnifiers.

In addition, adaptations to guidelines for care for this patient population include:

• Consultations with pharmacists to review home medications
• Ongoing, specialized training of staff working with geriatric patients
• Screening for changes in mental status and other health risks
• Improved integration of social workers to address needs, promoting success at home.
• A follow-up phone call to the patient within 48 hours to inquire how they are feeling, did they fill their prescriptions, do they have questions?

If you are a patient or would like more information about Saint Clare’s Geriatric Emergency Department, please call 973-625-6400.

Saint Clare's Health System also provides emergency psychiatric care at Saint Clare's Hospital/Denville. The 24-hour hotline for Psychiatric Emergency Services can be reached at 973-625-0280.