Emergency Care at Carle Foundation Hospital

Carle Foundation Hospital has the largest emergency room in the region, offering comprehensive emergency services 24/7 to more than 90,000 patients each year. Carle is also the only state-designated Level I Trauma Center in the region.

Our Level I designation means that Carle has experienced personnel and the facilities and equipment necessary to provide specialized care to all trauma patients, regardless of the extent or type of trauma. For a listing of Carle Emergency Department providers, click here.

Our Emergency Department is available by walk-in, ground ambulance and air ambulance.

Level 1 Trauma Center

Carle Foundation Hospital is a state-designated Level I Trauma Center, the only hospital in the region and one of only three hospitals south of the Chicago-land area to be awarded this rating. To earn this distinctive Level I status, Carle has met strict guidelines regarding patient care and is certified to care for the most critically injured patients 24/7.

Efficiency, skill and extensive training are the essential elements of a Level I Trauma Center. At Carle the entire hospital is on alert and all medical personnel work together as a cohesive unit - from the triage nurses in the Emergency Department to the specialists in the Critical Care and Intensive Care units.

Level I Designation Criteria

Carle Foundation Hospital has been continuously designated a Level I Trauma Center since August 1988. Every three years the review process is conducted by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Together with a trauma surgeon/emergency room physician, they examine the facilities, interview staff and review patient records to assess the quality of care rendered before extending the Level I designation.

Level I Trauma Center team members include a group of highly skilled professionals from virtually every discipline at Carle.

Our team of specialists include:
  • Cardiac-Surgery
  • Cardio-Pulmonary
  • Oncology
  • Neurology
  • Orthopedics
  • Advanced Care
  • Medical
  • Surgical
  • Medical-Surgical
  • Observation
  • Clinical Decision Unit

Chest Pain Emergency Center

Every year, thousands of area residents turn to the Chest Pain Emergency Center at the Carle Heart and Vascular Institute for their chest pain and discomfort. Open 24 hours a day, the Center features specially trained staff, a cardiologist always on call and the most advanced cardiac diagnostic equipment available to rapidly evaluate your pain.

What causes chest pain?
  • Angina
  • Heart attack
  • Heartburn
  • Collapsed lung
  • Anxiety or panic disorder
  • Asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia or pleuritis
  • Injury to the chest wall or lung
  • Blood clot that has traveled to the lung
  • Pulled muscle
  • Shingles
  • Hiatal hernia
  • Peptic ulcer

The specialized staff at Carle will evaluate your pain and identify its cause. Take any warning signs seriously. If you or someone you’re with experiences chest pain, call 911 for immediate assistance.