Emergency Services

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

Presence Saint Joseph Hospital

2900 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60657

773.665.3086

View a map and directions. Parking is available outside the emergency entrance, by valet at the main entrance and in the hospital parking garage. 

Emergency Care at Presence Saint Joseph Hospital

When a medical emergency happens, you want the best possible care as quickly as possible. At Presence Saint Joseph Hospital, our experienced physicians, nurses and support staff are ready at a moment’s notice to provide fast, effective care. Features of our emergency care include:

• 24-hour coverage by board-certified or board-eligible emergency medicine physicians
• Specialists on call in every discipline, including cardiology, gastroenterology, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, radiology and other physicians as needed for your specific care
• Registered nurses with many years of experience and certifications in emergency medicine including CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse), ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support), PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) and CPR
• In-house imaging and lab services to provide rapid results for diagnosis and treatment
• Cardiac catheterization lab with 24/7 resident coverage for immediate heart attack treatment
• Senior-friendly features including thicker mattresses, large button phones, magnifiers and a visit from a social worker
• Bedside electrocardiogram (EKG) for up-to-the-minute heart monitoring
• 24-hour operating room capability with anesthesiologists on call
• Highest level of pediatric emergency care as an EDAP (emergency department approved for pediatrics), designated by the Illinois Department of Public Health
• Behavioral health crisis workers to assess patients and help with placement for further treatment
• Associate hospital for Chicago EMS (emergency medical services) and Fire Department to receive EKG and symptom details to prepare ER staff for patients’ arrival
• Dedicated fast-track process to reduce wait time for patients with less severe illness or injury who don’t need to be admitted to the hospital

Superior Care for Chest Pain

We have earned national Chest Pain Center accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC). That means we provide a faster, higher level of care to patients with heart attack symptoms. Our physicians, nurses and support staff are trained to:

• Deliver specialized care during the early stages of a cardiac event—when treatment is critical to saving lives and preserving heart muscle.
• Monitor patients when it is not certain that they are having a heart attack, ensuring that they are not sent home too quickly or needlessly admitted to the hospital.

Find out more about our cardiovascular care program.

Expert Treatment for Stroke

When stroke strikes, there’s not a minute to lose. Our emergency team works quickly using the latest treatments for stroke, providing the best chances for a complete recovery. Presence Saint Joseph has earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ and is designated as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. That means that we meet and exceed national standards for rapid-response stroke care that significantly improves outcomes for our patients. Our dedicated stroke program offers:

• Expert neurologists, certified emergency nurses and other clinicians trained in treating strokes
• 24-hour specialized stroke care with advanced diagnostics and proven treatments—including clot-busting medications and neurointerventional procedures that can prevent or reduce brain damage
• TeleStroke, a telemedicine program with our interventional stroke neurologists who evaluate stroke patients remotely via internet video to make treatment decisions

Learn more about our neuroscience and stroke care program.

Dedicated to Patient Satisfaction

We’re proud that our satisfaction scores rank among the best in the nation—a testament to a team that consistently provides the highest level of care to patients of all ages. Our emergency department features a specially designed décor that provides a quiet, calm atmosphere. We offer a large family lounge with WiFi, and blinds in each treatment suite to protect your privacy.

*The wait time represents the time it takes to see a qualified medical professional, defined as a Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Physician Assistant (PA) or Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP). Emergency department wait times represent a rolling average updated every 15 minutes. Wait time is defined as the period of time between the patient’s arrival until the patient is greeted by a qualified medical professional. Patients are triaged at arrival and are then seen by a qualified medical professional in priority order based on their presenting complaint and reason for visit.