USA Health University Hospital re-certified as Level I trauma center

Emergency Departments

USA Health treats emergencies at the region's only Level I trauma center at University Hospital, as well as emergency departments at Children's & Women's Hospital, Providence Hospital, and the Freestanding ED in west Mobile.

USA Health Emergency Departments

USA Health University Hospital offers the region’s only Level I trauma center. We also staff the only pediatric emergency center at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital, and in west Mobile, we have both the emergency department at Providence Hospital and a state-of-the-art freestanding emergency department.

University Hospital's Emergency Department and Fanny Meisler Trauma Center

We treat patients throughout the upper Gulf Coast at the USA Health Fanny Meisler Trauma Center on the campus of University Hospital. Persons suffering injuries from automobile accidents, fires, or gunshot wounds or stabbings are transported to the Trauma Center, where a dedicated staff of emergency medicine physicians, trauma surgeons, and other specially trained clinical staff are ready to help. Patients experiencing major illnesses and emergencies are typically treated by our emergency medicine team. Using the most advanced technology, they are trained to take care of cardiac, orthopaedic, stroke and other emergencies.

Children's & Women's Hospital Pediatric Emergency Center

Uniquely designed for patients ages 18 and under, the Pediatric Emergency Center at Children’s & Women’s Hospital is the region’s only healthcare facility dedicated to caring for sick and injured children 24 hours a day, every day. The newly expanded center opened in spring 2024 and is nearly 19,000 square feet, more than double the size of the former emergency department. It has achieved 100% compliance with the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program's National Pediatric Readiness Project. The assessment tool empowers emergency departments to improve their capability to provide high-quality care for children, also known as being “pediatric ready.”

Providence Hospital Emergency Department

The Emergency Department at USA Health Providence Hospital provides emergency care, including a Level III trauma center, to residents of west Mobile. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Before you leave the ER, you will be connected with specialists who can provide follow-up care as you continue your recovery.

Freestanding Emergency Department in west Mobile

The USA Health Freestanding Emergency Department provides people who live and work in west Mobile convenient access to the most advanced emergency and diagnostic care available in the region. Led by board-certified emergency medicine physicians, patient care is supported by significant imaging capabilities, including a CT scanner, an MRI, mammography, X-ray and ultrasound.

Contact Us

If you have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

If you want to speak with someone directly in one of our emergency departments, call the numbers below:

University Hospital
Fanny Meisler Trauma Center:
251-471-7300

Children's & Women's Hospital
Pediatric Emergency Center:
251-415-1144

Providence Hospital
Emergency Department:
251-266-1900

Freestanding Emergency Department:
251-341-3800

When to go to the ER

Sometimes it's hard to know if you should go to an emergency room, urgent care clinic or wait and schedule an appointment with your regular doctor.

These are just a few examples of reasons to call 911 and have an ambulance take you to one of USA Health's emergency departments:

Choking
Breathing difficulties or failure to breathe
Head injury with loss of consciousness
Injury to neck or spine, especially if there is loss of feeling or inability to move
Electric shock or lightning strike
Severe burn
Severe chest pain or pressure
Seizure
Passing out, fainting
Pain in the arm or jaw
Unusual or severe headache, especially if it started suddenly
Inability to speak, see, walk or move
Sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the body
Dizziness or weakness that does not go away
Inhaled smoke or poisonous fumes
Sudden confusion
Heavy bleeding
Possible broken bone, especially if the bone is protruding through the skin
Deep wound
Serious burn
Coughing or throwing up blood
Severe pain anywhere on the body
Severe allergic reaction with trouble breathing, swelling, hives
High fever with headache and stiff neck
Nausea or diarrhea that does not subside
Poisoning
Drug or alcohol overdose
Suicidal thoughts

What to expect during your visit

What happens when I first arrive?

Upon arrival, you will be registered as a patient in the emergency room (ER) and go through a triage process. A nurse will ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history as well as perform a quick assessment. This will help to determine the order in which you will be seen. In all ERs, patients are seen in the order of most acute or sickest first, not in the order of arrival. This process is called “triage.” A triage system that prioritizes the sickest patients is standard to best save lives and minimize disability.

Who will help me?

After triage, you will be seen by a provider. Patients in the ER are cared for by a team of healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, medical assistants, paramedics, and advanced-care providers (APPs) such as a physician assistants or nurse practitioners. APPs are licensed independent providers who evaluate, admit, and discharge patients on their own but may also consult with doctors.

How long will I have to wait?

ERs are not like scheduled clinics, and sometimes an unexpected, large number of patients may arrive at the same time. Patients with the most severe illnesses and injuries will be seen first. Even when the waiting room seems empty, the examination rooms may be full, with our healthcare professionals working hard to take care of everyone as soon as possible. We will do our best to keep you informed of any extended wait times, and we thank you in advance for your patience.

What makes USA Health University Hospital unique?

USA Health University Hospital offers centers for Level 1 trauma, burn, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and sickle cell disease. As an academic medical center, part of the hospital mission is to train future healthcare professionals. There are multiple levels of learners including students, resident physicians, and fellow physicians (doctors in sub-specialty training). All students and residents work under a supervising faculty physician.

What makes the USA Health Freestanding Emergency Department unique?

USA Health Freestanding Emergency Department is an emergency department that is not physically attached to a hospital. It is part of USA Health and is supported by University Hospital’s wide variety of specialized treatment areas. We are a fully functioning emergency department and can evaluate and stabilize almost any emergent medical condition. The facility has its own lab, imaging services (CT, MRI, mammography, X-ray and ultrasound), and medical providers and nursing staff trained in emergency medicine. However, blood products are not available at the freestanding emergency department, as this requires a specialized laboratory.

During your medical work-up, the provider may determine that you need further evaluation, testing or treatment by a specialist and/or admission to the hospital. These specialty services are not available at the freestanding emergency department. If you need these services or admission, we may transfer you to one of our three hospitals in the USA Health system: University Hospital, Children’s & Women’s Hospital, or Providence Hospital. These include a Level 1 trauma center, a burn center, a comprehensive stroke center, and cardiovascular services.

Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine

Our physicians are also educators in the Department of Emergency Medicine of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama. Visit the Department of Emergency Medicine to learn about its academic mission and residency program.