Emergency Medicine

Immediate, Life-Saving Care

Get medical attention fast when you need it most. We keep our emergency room wait times as low as possible so you can get immediate critical care. All Sanford Emergency Centers have trained specialists on call 24 hours every day to offer the region’s highest level of trauma care.

Whatever your emergency health care needs, come to Sanford Health for access to advanced technology and trained specialists. Your care team consists of trauma doctors and nurses, emergency surgeons and anesthesiologists. All are medical experts ready to provide specialized care to patients quickly.

Call 911 in an emergency or go to the nearest emergency room. For poison control, call 1-800-222-1222.

When calling emergency services, always:

• Speak calmly and clearly
• Know your location and be aware of your surroundings
• Listen to and answer all questions
• Don’t hang up until the dispatcher tells you to

Find an ER Near You

Visit an emergency room in your area. Sanford Emergency Centers provide emergency air ambulance services for those who need immediate care but aren’t near a care center. In an emergency, call 911. 

The Best Trauma Care in the Region

Sanford Medical Center Fargo has the only Level I Adult Trauma Center in the region. It serves communities in the area between Minneapolis, Seattle, Denver and Omaha. This designation means the center can provide total care for any injury or trauma. Sanford Health also has the only trauma center in the area with a dedicated trauma research program.

In Sioux Falls, the Sanford USD Medical Center is a verified Level II Adult and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Trauma. It is the only verified Pediatric Trauma Center in the state of South Dakota.

Do You Need Emergency Care?

It is always best to be on the safe side. Get medical attention anytime you feel uncomfortable or uncertain about a medical situation. Call for help at either 911 or from your primary doctor. Anytime you need specialized care fast, go to an emergency room near you. Act quickly to save a life or prevent a serious emergency.

Find a list of symptoms and conditions that require immediate attention for adults and children.

Do you have your emergency contact information updated and ready?

Other Care Options

Go to a Sanford Walk-In Clinic if you need urgent care. Our clinics address medical needs that a primary care doctor can treat, but that can't wait for an appointment. These clinics are not emergency rooms, and you should not go to one if you need life-saving care.

Sanford Health’s intensive care units (ICUs) provide long-term care for critical trauma patients. An emergency room stabilizes patients and then transfers them to an ICU for further intensive care. Our ICUs are fully equipped and provide 24/7 care from a team of medical specialists.