UnityPoint Health - Iowa Lutheran Hospital Emergency Department

700 East University Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50316
515-263-5120

Today's Hours: Open 24 hours

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Information

Number of patients waiting reflects the current number of patients waiting to be seen. This number changes frequently and is not exact.

Hours of Operation

  • Monday: Open 24 hours
  • Tuesday: Open 24 hours
  • Wednesday: Open 24 hours
  • Thursday: Open 24 hours
  • Friday: Open 24 hours
  • Saturday: Open 24 hours
  • Sunday: Open 24 hours


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Iowa Lutheran Hospital Emergency Department

The emergency department at Iowa Lutheran Hospital serves patients of all ages for trauma, medical, surgical and psychiatric evaluations. Iowa Lutheran Hospital is designated as a Level IV Trauma Center.

Features

  • Private, individual patient rooms
  • State-of-the-art digital radiology
  • Family waiting suites adjoining the two trauma rooms
  • Increased security
  • Easier access
  • Bedside registration
  • Increased mental health capacity - more space and extended hours
  • Chest Pain Accredited

 

What Type of Appointment Do I Need?

Primary Care

Primary Care encompasses the comprehensive treatment of a number of diseases in symptoms and specialties including pediatrics, internal medicine and family medicine. Rather than specializing in one particular area of medicine, the physician is trained to meet all the needs of patients as one point of contact. Examples of symptoms and conditions treated by a primary care provider can include:

  • Minor medical problems and injuries
  • Physicals/Sports Physicals
  • Medicine Checks
  • Long Term Care
  • Medication Refill
  • Ongoing Symptoms (ex: Continued Back Pain)
  • Care or Treatment Planning
  • Disease Management
  • Managing Existing Conditions (Migraines, Depression, Anxiety, Arthritis, etc.)
  • Substance Abuse
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes and obesity
  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Skin problems
Walk-In Care

Urgent Care and Express treat minor medical problems and injuries that are not life-threatening, but need the attention of a health care provider. These are not an alternative to the emergency room, but offer the ability to get walk-in care without an appointment for all patient ages. Urgent Care is available after hours, weekends and holidays. Our Urgent Care Clinics can provide medical treatment for minor illness and injuries such as:

  • Allergies
  • Burns
  • Colds
  • Coughs
  • Cuts (Stitches)
  • Earaches or Ear Infections
  • Fevers
  • Minor Medical Problems and Injuries
  • Minor Eye Care
  • Flu
  • Fractures (X-Ray On-Site at Most Locations)
  • Infections
  • Sore Throats
  • Sprains, Including Sprained Ankles (X-Ray On-Site at Most Locations)
  • Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
  • Yeast Infections
  • Certain Rapid Tests

Please note: Flu shots, physicals and/or sports physicals are not offered at every walk-in care location.

*If you are experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath, please go to the Emergency Department or call 911 immediately. For less serious medical issues, such as physicals, medication refills or to leave a message for your primary care doctor, you can access your My UnityPoint patient portal 24/7!

Virtual Care

Connect with a UnityPoint Health provider online using MyUnityPoint to access virtual urgent care or SmartExam. Virtual care doctors can diagnose, recommend treatment and prescribe medication when necessary for commonly treated conditions. Available every day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for individuals 2 years and older located in the state of Iowa.

Virtual care should be used for minor, common ailments and illnesses. Some examples, and the qualifying age to receive virtual care or SmartExam for that condition, include: 

Condition Virtual Urgent Care SmartExam
Acne 2+ 2+
Burn 2+ 2+
Cold/Flu 2+ 2+
Cold Sores 13+ 18+
Constipation 2+ 18+
Cough/Upper Respiratory Infection 2+ 18+
Diarrhea 2+ 18+
Fever 2+ 18+
Head Lice 2+ 2+
Heartburn 2+ 18+
Headache/Migraine 18+ 18+
Joint Pan 2+ 18+
Rash 2+ 18+
Red Eye 2+ 2+
Sinuses 2+ 2+
Sore Throat 2+ 18+
Urinary Tract Infection 13+ (female only) 18+
Vaginal Infection (yeast/bacterial vaginosis) 18+ 18+
Vomiting 2+ 18+

Emergency Care

Emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for severe or life-threatening conditions. Conditions that require ER care include excessive bleeding, broken bones, chest pain or trouble breathing. Emergency services include diagnostic testing and access to specialists.