Expert Emergency Care for All Ages & Stages
IN AN EMERGENCY, ALWAYS CALL 9-1-1.
Our Emergency Care and Trauma Center offers around-the-clock, immediate care for all ages and stages — from obstetrical and pediatric emergencies to advanced care for heart attacks and stroke — a level of care that's unparalleled in our area.
Located on the Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota Campus and backed by the full resources of the hospital, our 24-hour ER Emergency Care Center is staffed by highly trained providers, including board-certified Emergency Care Center physicians and ER nurses with advanced certifications in trauma and emergency care. Sarasota Memorial's affiliation with John's Hopkins All Children's Hospitals ensures 24/7 specialized emergency care for pediatric patients.
In a medical emergency, always call 9-1-1. For urgent, but not life-threatening conditions and imaging needs, Sarasota Memorial's 7 Urgent Care Centers are open 8am-8pm daily. Check out our "Know When To Go" symptom guide or our "Urgent Care: Fast Facts" video series for guidance on when to choose urgent care.
For non-emergency information about the SMH-Sarasota ER and other emergency care services, call 941-917-8555. Click here for information on our Level II Trauma Center, the only facility in our area providing trauma care services.
Emergency Warning Signs
If you or someone you know is experiencing emergency warning signs (see below), call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not try to drive to the ER. Life-saving interventions often take place in an ambulance, as does transmission of vital information to hospitals preparing for your emergency treatment.
- Chest pain or pressure
- Loss of consciousness or awareness
- Choking
- Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
- Sudden numbness, tingling, weakness of an extremity
- Serious injuries, especially those that affect the head, abdomen, neck or back
- Sudden severe pain anywhere in your body, from a known or unknown cause
- Sudden dizziness, headache or change in vision
- Weakness, fainting or feeling as if you are going to pass out
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Thoughts of suicide or homicide
- Seizures or convulsions
- Poisoning or overdose of medications
- Significant bleeding from vagina, rectum or when vomiting
- Bleeding that cannot be stopped with pressure
- Major burns
Emergency Care for Pregnant Women
SMH-Sarasota offers a 24-hour emergency care center dedicated to pregnant women: the Obstetrical Emergency Care Center (OB-ECC). OB hospitalists are always available to examine patients, evaluate the progress of labor, check lab results, handle emergencies and provide a safe delivery for women who do not have their own physician or whose physician requests assistance. The Obstetrical ER, Triage and OB Hospitalist Service is located near the main Emergency Room.
For non-emergency information about the OB-ECC, call 941-917-8555.
Immediate Care for Heart Attacks
Choosing an ER with a hospital-based catheterization lab and world-class heart surgery program is the best way to avoid potentially life-threatening delays in receiving advanced cardiac care. Sarasota Memorial’s DASH (Direct Angioplasty Saves Hearts) team collaborates with 9-1-1 and first-responders to ensure that patients receive life-saving interventions as soon as they arrive.
Advanced, Comprehensive Stroke Care
Sarasota Memorial is the only nationally recognized, state-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in Sarasota County. Our Comprehensive Stroke Center and Neuroscience Center of Excellence is nationally certified to provide the most advanced stroke treatment for complex cases and stroke-related complications.
Forensic Nursing Team
Sarasota Memorial Hospital provides comprehensive services and support for survivors of sexual assault and other acts of violence, with over 40 specially trained forensic nurses and a team of board certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE). Recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Accreditation Committee as a top exemplar, SMH's forensic and SANE-certified nurses offer counseling, medical care and ongoing support for survivors at its three Emergency Care Centers throughout Sarasota County. The team assists with issues such as sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy concerns, and mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. They also collaborate with law enforcement and provide expert testimony in legal proceedings if criminal charges are filed.