In an emergency you don't have time to stop and consider where to go for medical help. You need quick, capable care…now. You need to know you can count on your local hospital…and you can. We deliver quality treatment from emergency medicine specialists any time of the day or night.

Blue Ridge Regional Hospital is dedicated to serving all the emergency needs of our neighbors, and we put that commitment into practice with an expanded and updated Emergency Department. The facility is prepared and skilled emergency physicians are ready to assess and treat the full range of emergency conditions. When advanced cardiac and neurological procedures are required, our affiliation with Mission Health System helps to ensure seamless transition to a nationally recognized hospital.

If you need emergency treatment, please call 911.

If you suspect a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately. EMS providers begin life-saving treatment and you should never drive yourself in case your condition worsens. Calling 911 also establishes communication between EMS and the Emergency Department so we will be prepared for your arrival.

Emergency Department Services
We are always open and prepared to assess your emergency. Our triage nurses assess your condition to determine the severity of your illness or injury. The medical team coordinates a plan to stabilize your condition and begin treatment. Blue Ridge Regional Hospital offers quality emergency care in a facility specially designed to meet your needs:

• 12 private treatment rooms equipped with cardiac monitors
• Advanced imaging technology
• In-house laboratory
• Decontamination room
• Private ambulance entrance
• Automatic medication dispensing machine
• Family consult room

Time in the Emergency Department
We understand that it's difficult to wait when you're in the Emergency Department and we ask for your patience because we can't predict how many people will arrive or what their condition might be. If some patients arrive after you, but receive treatment ahead of you, please understand that the most serious conditions must be given priority. No matter what their condition, nearly half of our emergency patients are seen and discharged within two hours of arrival.

Please be aware that:

• People with the most serious emergencies will be treated first
• Treatment time varies depending on your condition
• Additional tests may be critical and these take extra time

If your condition gets worse while you're waiting, let the nurses know right away.

Advanced Emergency Care
If advanced procedures are required for cardiac or neurological conditions, the physicians at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital will stabilize you and arrange for transport to Mission Hospital or other appropriate facility via EMS or Mountain Medical Airlift. Our affiliation with Mission means that procedures are in place that enable open communication and rapid transition to Mission's Level II Trauma Center, where appropriate.

• Mountain Area Medical Airlift (MAMA): Helicopters are ready around the clock to provide critical care transport. The medical flight crews and technology available on the MAMA air ambulances allow care to be delivered en route.

Learn the Signs of Heart Attacks and Strokes
Every minute counts during a heart attack or stroke. Rapid treatment may mean the difference between full recovery versus disability or death. Learn the signs and call 911 immediately if you suspect heart attack or stroke.

Signs of a Heart Attack
Signs vary from one person to the next; they may appear quickly and be severe or they may be vague and develop slowly over time:

• Chest pain or discomfort – mild or strong; feels like pressure, fullness or pain
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Dizziness or feeling faint
• Breaking out in a cold sweat

Women may have the same symptoms, but they're more likely than men to have shortness of breath, nausea and pain in the back, neck or jaw. Woman may also experience:

• Extreme tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Coughing
• Heart flutters

Signs of a Stroke
Treatment within the first three hours significantly increases the chance of recovering from a stroke with little or no disability. Some people may not realize they're having a stroke, so they need you to recognize their symptoms. Think FAST:

• Face – facial droop or weakness
  
• Arms – numbness or weakness on one side
  
• Speech – slurred speech, trouble speaking
  
• Time – call 911 immediately

Medical Professionals
Blue Ridge Regional Hospital's Emergency Department is staffed with compassionate professionals experienced in treating children and adults with varying types of illness, trauma or medical condition. Medical professionals serving you in the Emergency Department include:

• Registered nurses—all trained or certified in:
  
  • Advanced cardiac life support
    
  • Pediatric life support
    
  • TNCC (Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum)
    
  • Acute stroke assessment
    
• Board certified emergency medicine physicians

Appointments and Information
Appointments are not necessary for the Emergency Department. If you have an emergency, call 911, or have someone bring you to the emergency room as quickly as possible.

If you do not have an emergency, but have questions about our services, call 828-765-4201.

Safe Haven: Under North Carolina law, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital is a designated safe haven. This means that any baby up to 7 days old may be left with an employee at the hospital. No questions will be asked and you will not face prosecution for abandonment, as long as the baby is not harmed or abused. To find out more about Safe Haven, go to https://nationalsafehavenalliance.org/states/northcarolina/.

Location and Hours
Emergency Department
Blue Ridge Regional Hospital
125 Hospital Dr.
Spruce Pine, NC 28777

The Emergency Department is always open.