When you arrive for treatment at the Emergency Department, your condition is evaluated by a nurse.

The Emergency Department physician may order tests necessary to diagnose your condition (laboratory, X-rays, etc.), and if you need specialty treatment, one of our consulting specialists will be called.

Please be prepared to provide pertinent information about your medical history, including:

• Medicines you are taking
• Allergies
• A summary of your past illnesses, injuries and surgeries.

This information allows our medical team to give you appropriate treatment. 

Directions

The Emergency Department is on the UTMB Campus, on the east end of Galveston Island. Access to the facility is off Harborside Drive. 

Parking

Parking is available in the adjacent garage.

Patients may be dropped off on the elevated ramp by the entrance; however, absolutely no parking is allowed in the ramp area, which is also used by ambulances and aircraft.

Visitation Guidelines

Space limitations require that only one family member or primary support person can accompany the patient to the treatment room.

When in the patient care area, visitors are asked to always remain at the patient's bedside. With your consent, our staff will make every effort to keep family members and friends informed of your condition and treatment.

Guests & Visitors Guide

• Visits: Greater than 45,000 visits in FY2016
• Approximately 25% of patients are admitted
• Average service delivery time: Less than 10 minutes
• Facility:
  • 90,000 square feet
  • Number of trauma bays: 7
  • Patient rooms: 30
  • Specialty care rooms: 10
  • Minor emergency area rooms: 5-7
  • Treatment overflow rooms: 9
  • Number of helipads: 3
  • State-of-the-art decontamination areas
  • 6 Bed Biocontainment Unit
  • Fixed-air isolation room  (Under Construction)
• Designated Forensic Nursing Program
• UTMB Health is a designated Ebola Treatment Center