UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's Emergency Department
Information
Number of patients waiting reflects the current number of patients waiting to be seen. This number changes frequently and is not exact.
Hours and Directions
Emergency & Trauma
Emergency care just can't wait. That's why UnityPoint Health – St. Luke's Emergency Department practices proven patient-flow processes to help reduce wait times. This means our time is focused on seeing and treating you. At St. Luke's, our emergency department is staffed with specially trained nurses, nurse practitioners and emergency physicians at all times. We have advanced trauma technology to care for patients in any emergency situation. Cardiac monitors are located by all 21 patient beds for attentive care and observation. In addition, the technology in each of St. Luke's service departments is immediately available to patients.
The Francis Kline SAFE Room
Our ER features a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) room, a safe area for immediate and discreet sexual assault examinations. The Francis Kline SAFE Room, made possible through generous gifts from Mrs. Francis Kline and St. Luke's Partners, is the only room of its kind in the county. It's a place where assault victims can go for the most sensitive medical care and forensic examination, with compassionate care provided by St. Luke's specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.
The John & Barb Olson Family Room
This special room serves as a sanctuary for families in moments of hardship and was created thanks to a generous gift from John & Barb Olson. The Olson's felt strongly about providing a private place for families to retreat in the ER. In this room families are given privacy to speak with a physician, discuss treatment plans or process the news of a patient's outcome. At St. Luke's, family and patient-centered care is provided so we can care for the needs of both the patient and the family.
Child-friendly Emergency Care
We know emergency departments can be a scary place for kids and parents. St. Luke's emergency department offers Siouxland's most child-friendly trauma department decorated with warm colors, activity areas and other soothing features. Our child friendly amenities include:
- A pediatric emergency room sponsored by Children's Miracle Network, the Ronald McDonald House Charities and other anonymous donors. This room features a colorful mural, calming twinkle lights, a flat screen television and toys to set kids' minds at ease.
- Pediatric-specific equipment designed especially for kids, including a GlideScope for intubation.
- Pain-free topical anesthetic to numb an area, making the child's visit to the ER less stressful.
Trauma Services and Injury Prevention
Trauma is a leading cause of death and disability across all ages and it is preventable. Accidental injury is now the third leading cause of death for people age 1-44. Trauma is the leading cause of death in children and is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in elderly adults. At UnityPoint Health – St Luke's, it is our goal to promote evidence based programs to help reduce the number of severely injured Iowans. All of the programs listed below are free of charge or for a small fee.
ThinkFirst Iowa
ThinkFirst Siouxland is a free, school-based program offered by UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's to schools throughout Siouxland that provides age specific programs for kids, youth and teens to increase their awareness and knowledge about safety prevention.
Trauma Education
The ENA's Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) is widely recognized as the premier course for hospitals and trauma centers worldwide, empowering nurses with the knowledge, critical thinking skills and hands-on training to provide expert care for trauma patients.
For dates and availability, please contact our Trauma Program and Injury Prevention Coordinator Amanda Monroe-Rubendall at amanda.monroe-rubendall@unitypoint.org.
What Type of Appointment Do I Need?
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. Same-day appointments may be available. Call your clinic or log in to MyUnityPoint to schedule with your provider or a member of their care team.
Examples of symptoms and conditions treated by a primary care provider can include:
- Allergies
- Cancer screenings (for select cancers)
- Disease management (asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, etc.)
- Long term care or treatment planning
- Managing existing conditions (migraines, depression, anxiety, arthritis, etc.)
- Medication refill and medicine checks
- Minor medical problems and injuries
- Ongoing symptoms (continued back pain, skin problems, etc.)
- Physicals/sports physicals
- Substance abuse
- Vaccinations
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 urgent 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!
Connect with a UnityPoint Health provider online using MyUnityPoint to access virtual urgent care. 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 Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota.
Virtual care should be used for minor, common ailments and illnesses. Some examples, and the qualifying age to receive virtual urgent care for that condition, include:
| Condition | Virtual Urgent Care |
|---|---|
| Acne | 2+ |
| Burn | 2+ |
| Cold/Flu | 2+ |
| Cold Sores | 13+ |
| Constipation | 2+ |
| Cough/Upper Respiratory Infection | 2+ |
| Diarrhea | 2+ |
| Fever | 2+ |
| Head Lice | 2+ |
| Heartburn | 2+ |
| Headache/Migraine | 18+ |
| Joint Pan | 2+ |
| Rash | 2+ |
| Red Eye | 2+ |
| Sinuses | 2+ |
| Sore Throat | 2+ |
| Urinary Tract Infection | 13+ (female only) |
| Vaginal Infection (yeast/bacterial vaginosis) | 18+ |
| Vomiting | 2+ |
Emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for severe or life-threatening conditions. Conditions that require emergency care include excessive bleeding, broken bones, chest pain or trouble breathing. Emergency services include diagnostic testing and access to specialists.
Examples of symptoms and conditions treated by emergency departments can include:
- Symptoms of a heart attack, including severe chest pain, sweating and shortness of breath.
- Profuse bleeding or blood loss that continues even after direct pressure has been placed on the wound.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Sudden dizziness, weakness, loss of coordination, balance or vision problems, which are signs of stroke.
- High fever and vomiting that continues nonstop for several hours.
- Signs of meningitis for adults: severe headaches, neck/joint pain and stiffness, vomiting, high temperature, sensitivity to light or babies and small children: high-pitched whimpering/crying, lethargy, fussiness, restlessness, high fever, vomiting, cold extremities, refusing food, pale or blotchy skin.
- Seizures lasting longer than five minutes.
- Injuries occurring from an accident or fall - intense back or neck pain, obvious compound fractures and/or dislocations of bones, deep cuts and severe burns.