If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Not sure what level of care you need? Learn more about where to seek care.
Immediate care when and where you need it
Emergencies can happen in an instant. When the unexpected happens, we are here for you with round-the-clock emergency care at our hospitals and neighborhood emergency department locations across the Pacific Northwest.
MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma offers 24/7 emergency and trauma care from a team trained and experienced in caring for children. Mary Bridge Children’s serves as the state-designated Level II Pediatric Trauma Center for Western Washington to treat severe and life-threatening injuries.
What we treat
If you’re not sure whether you need emergency care or urgent care, please use the where to seek care guide to help you decide which care option is right for you.
Some of the common reasons for visiting the emergency department:
Illness:
- Allergic reactions
- Altered mental status
- Asthma and difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Dehydration
- Extreme fatigue
- Heart attack
- High fever
- Uncontrolled nosebleeds
- Pneumonia
- Seizures
- Severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting
- Severe diarrhea
- Stroke
- Sudden blurred vision
- Sudden dizziness, weakness, loss of coordination or balance
- Sudden, severe headache
Injury:
- Burns
- Deep cuts or bleeding that won’t stop
- Dislocated joints
- Foreign-object removal
- Head injuries
- Rashes, insect bites, stings
- Serious back injury
- Sprains and broken bones
- Work-related injuries
What to expect
When you visit the emergency department, it’s important for your care team to know your medical history. Important information you should be ready to share:
- Current medications and dosages, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements
- Allergies
- History of previous hospitalizations or surgeries
- Chronic conditions
- Past illnesses
- Relevant family health history
A triage nurse will assess your condition to determine the level of your emergency. If you have a severe medical problem, our highly skilled team will provide whatever attention is needed right away. You may have to wait longer if you have a minor medical issue, since those with the most severe injuries and illnesses are seen first.
When we are ready to see you, you’ll be taken to a treatment room, where your symptoms will be further evaluated. Imaging or lab tests may be done to aid in diagnosis and treatment of your condition. Your doctor or other health care provider will determine whether you need to be admitted to the hospital or if you can go home after treatment.
Once you have been discharged, you will be given after-visit instructions, including details about your illness or injury, any medications or treatment you need and directions for follow-up care.
Patient Transfer Center
The MultiCare Patient Transfer Center coordinates transfers and direct admissions for our hospitals across the Pacific Northwest.
Learn More