Emergency Care
Expert Care When it Matters Most
You can never predict when an accident will occur, but you can trust the emergency experts at University Medical Center New Orleans to be prepared to care for you when they do. Our Emergency Department doctors, nurses, and staff have dedicated their lives to saving yours—24 hours a day, 7 days a week to care for those with urgent emergency medical conditions such as injuries, illnesses, and mental health emergencies.
Emergency location & directions
Our Emergency Department is located on the second floor of the hospital at 2000 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112.
Please note: Patients can be dropped off at the Emergency Department entrance. Free patient parking is available in our garage at the intersection of Tulane Avenue and South Johnson Street.
Should you visit the emergency department?
It can be hard to know when an accident is serious enough to warrant a visit to the Emergency Room versus your physician. We’re here to help you make that call.
Call 504.702.2450 for more information about our emergency services. If you are having a medical emergency, go straight to the emergency room or call 911.
You should visit the Emergency Department if you or someone you know is having:
- Chest pain
- Large burns
- Heavy bleeding
- Trouble breathing
- Severe head injury
- Knife or gunshot wounds
- Loss of consciousness
- Persistent vomiting and diarrhea
- Sudden change in vision
- Sudden weakness
- Spinal injuries
- Broken bones
- Large open wounds
- Abdominal pain
- Problems with pregnancy
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Any concern that an illness or injury may be life threatening
When to call 911
Call 911 in a medical emergency such as if someone is unconscious, gasping for air or not breathing, experiencing an allergic reaction, having chest pain, bleeding uncontrollably, or any other symptoms that require immediate medical attention.
When calling, remember to stay calm and be prepared to give them the information they need, including:
- Address or location of emergency
- Brief description of emergency
- Number of people sick or injured
- A call-back number
How to know if you're having a heart attack
If you are experiencing one or more of the following, you may be having a heart attack and need to call 911.
Symptoms of a heart attack are:
- Chest Pain – Pain or discomfort in center of chest. Can feel like pressure, squeezing, or fullness
- Pain in other Body Areas – Pain in one or both arms, the jaw, back or stomach
- Shortness of Breath – With or without chest pain
- Other signs – May include breaking out in cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
Stroke warning signs (Act FAST)
F – Face drooping. One side of face droops or is numb. Ask person to smile.
A – Arm weakness. One arm weak or numb.
S – Speech difficulty. Is speech hard to understand or is person unable to speak?
T – Time to call 911. If person has any of these symptoms, even if they go away, it is time to call 911.
Cardiac arrest warning signs
- Sudden Loss of Responsiveness – Person does not respond to tapping on shoulders
- No Normal Breathing – Person does not take a normal breath if you tilt their head up and check for at least 5 seconds
Routine medical needs
Please make a clinic appointment if you have a routine medical need. Visit our Primary Care page for information on our services.
