About
Chest Pain
Stroke
Levels of Care
Emergency Departments
Alegent Creighton Health Emergency Departments are equipped to treat critical illnesses and serious injuries. Conveniently located throughout Omaha, Council Bluffs and in Papillion, our Emergency Rooms (ER) are staffed by physicians who specialize in emergency medicine and nurses who are specially trained to treat emergency cases. All five metro Emergency Departments are staffed 24 hours a day and have accredited
Chest Pain and
Stroke Centers. Our accreditation in Chest Pain and Stroke means that our staff is specially trained to quickly diagnose and treat chest pain and strokes, allowing patients to quickly receive the level of care that is most appropriate for their condition.
Locations and Directions
Alegent Creighton Health Emergency Departments are conveniently located throughout the metro area within our full-service hospitals in Omaha, Council Bluffs and in Papillion, as well in Alegent Creighton Health hospitals located in Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa. Map our Emergency Departments.
Chest Pain Centers
An accredited Chest Pain Center is located within the emergency departments of five Alegent Creighton Health metro hospitals. The accreditation by the Society of Chest Pain Centers is awarded to hospitals demonstrating expertise and commitment to quality patient care and treatment of chest pain.
This center serves as a triage point to quickly diagnose and treat chest pain, allowing patients to receive the level of care that is most appropriate for their condition.
- Those who are experiencing a full-blown heart attack immediately receive intervention therapies and are sent to a coronary-care unit.
- Lower risk patients can be sent to an observation unit or be treated on an outpatient basis.
- Those whose chest pain is not related to a heart condition can return home with greater peace of mind.
Heart Attack Symptoms
Chest pain is not something anyone should take lightly. Know the signs of a heart attack:
- Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes.
- Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms may also occur.
- Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
Should any of these symptoms occur, don’t waste time – call 911.
Heart Disease Risk Assessment
Heart disease kills more men and women each year than any other illness. Heart disease develops from the build-up of plaque (cholesterol and other material) in your heart's blood vessels. This disease process is called atherosclerosis. It can lead to a heart attack, stroke, and other serious health problems.
You won't necessarily know if you have heart disease until it has progressed a fair amount. Nonetheless, you should be aware of your risk factors and try to control them. If you do have risk factors, there are many lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your chances of developing serious problems. Are you at risk for heart disease? Take the heart disease risk assessment.
Primary Stroke Centers
As
Certified Primary Stroke Centers, five metro Alegent Creighton Health Hospitals follow nationally recognized standards and guidelines for stroke care, which can significantly improve patient outcomes and limit the long-term effects of the illness. Comprehensive stroke services include specialized emergency and inpatient care, physical rehabilitation and comprehensive outpatient therapy.
Stoke Warning Signs
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
Stroke Risk Assessment
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. A stroke is damage to an area of the brain that occurs from disrupted blood flow. This disturbance cuts off the supply of oxygen to the cells in that part of the brain, and these cells begin to die. Anybody can have a stroke, but certain factors place you at higher risk. Some factors that increase your risk of stroke cannot be changed. The good news, however, is that many risk factors are linked to lifestyle and are, therefore, under your control. Are you at risk?
Take the stroke risk assessment.
Levels of Care
Alegent Creighton Health offers all levels of care to keep your family healthy. Knowing when and where to go for care can save you the cost and waiting time when a visit to the emergency department isn't necessary. Getting the best care starts with having a primary care physician.
Physician's Office
Getting regular physicals is an important way maintain health and catch potential problems early. A primary care physician helps coordinate your healthcare, provides an initial diagnosis for almost any problem, and manages most conditions. The primary care physician helps choose a specialist if you need to be referred to one. Pediatricians, internal medicine specialists, and family medicine practitioners are all primary care providers.
If you are looking for a primary care doctor for yourself or your family, use our Find a Doctor tool or call 1-800-ALEGENT for a physician referral.
Quick Care
When the doctor's office is closed or if you are unable to see your physician,
Quick Care is a convenient walk-in clinic staffed by a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant who provides medical care to patients 18 months and older. Quick Care is designed for minor illnesses such as strep throat or flu, and also provides prescriptions, health screens and immunizations. Quick Care is open evenings, weekends, and part of the day on holidays. Quick Care accepts most insurance plans.
Visit the Quick Care page for additional information and hours.
Urgent Care
Urgent care centers are useful when your physician’s office is closed, or if you cannot get an appointment. If you have a cold or ongoing problem that can be addressed through your regular physician, you may want to wait until you can get an appointment with your physician. If you are experiencing chest pains or severe abdominal pain, go straight to the emergency room or call 911.
Visit the Urgent Care page for additional information and hours.
Pediatric Urgent Care
At Pediatric Urgent Care children are treated by a board-certified pediatrician or family medicine physician as well as experienced pediatric nurses. Located at Bergan Mercy Medical Center, it is connected to the Emergency Department should your child need additional care. A report of the child's visit will be sent to the physician the following day, along with any recommendations for follow-up care.
Visit the Pediatric Urgent Care page for additional information and hours.
