Emergency care
Emergency care is the treatment of unexpected, severe medical injuries or infections. It is typically delivered in an emergency room or an ambulance. Our emergency medicine physicians stabilize your condition as quickly as possible to prepare you for the next step of care or discharge.
Emergency room (ER) in Manchester, New Hampshire
Our team provides essential, efficient care for time-sensitive illnesses and injuries.
At Catholic Medical Center, our ER is fully equipped to treat your serious or life-threatening conditions. We provide access to leading-edge treatment rooms, as well as several dedicated areas for trauma, cardiac and stroke care.
Expert emergency care
Our emergency department treats you and your loved ones with compassion and urgency, taking the time to accurately assess and address your health needs.
Urgent vs. emergency care
Urgent care or walk-in clinics can help fill a vital gap when you become sick or injured but your regular doctor is not available or you can't wait for an appointment.
There are many reasons you may come to the ER. If you are having difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, a life-threatening injury, an injury that could result in the loss of a limb, signs of stroke or signs of heart attack — always call 911. Don’t drive yourself to the ER.
Our team includes specially trained providers with advanced certifications in emergency medicine, ensuring you receive high-quality care when it matters most.
For a heart attack or stroke, do not drive to the hospital. Call 911 immediately.
Stroke care
We work to ensure that you not only have as much information as possible regarding stroke symptoms and risk factors, but that you also have access to efficient stroke care. We are committed to helping you and your loved ones during and after a stroke. Our ER specialists are trained to promptly treat your stroke symptoms with evidence-based interventions that work to stop strokes and prevent them in the future.
Signs of a stroke
A stroke is an urgent medical emergency that occurs when blood stops flowing to part of the brain. If you know the warning signs of a stroke, you can be better equipped to seek immediate care if one occurs. A stroke can cause a variety of symptoms, such as:
- Abrupt severe headache
- Being unaware of body parts
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Issues speaking
- Lack of bowel or bladder control
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Numbness
- Problems with thinking or attention
- Sudden bursts of emotion
- Sudden trouble seeing
- Trouble swallowing
- Unexpected pain
- Walking difficulties
- Weakness or paralysis on one side
Stroke risk factors
While risk factors for stroke are always concerning, they fall into two categories. There are risk factors that cannot be managed or changed, and there are manageable risk factors. Risk factors you are born with include:
- Age — As your age increases, so does your risk for a stroke.
- Family disease — Having a personal history of diabetes or smoking puts you at risk of a stroke.
- Gender — Men are at a higher risk for stroke than women.
- Race — African Americans are at a higher risk for stroke than other groups.
Other factors that can increase your risk of stroke include:
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
- Diabetes
- Heavy alcohol use
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- High-fat or high-sodium diet
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity
- Smoking
B.E. F.A.S.T.
If have any stroke risk factors, it's important to educate yourself and your family about potential warning signs. Not all warning signs occur in every instance, and sometimes they go away before they return. B.E. F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the warning signs of stroke.
- Balance — Have you experienced poor balance, headache or dizziness?
- Eyes — Do you have blurred vision?
- Face — Are you experiencing sudden numbness, weakness or drooping of the face?
- Arms — Have you felt weak or numb in one arm or leg?
- Speech — Are you suddenly confused or having trouble speaking?
- Time — Time to call 911.
If you think you or someone close to you may be having a stroke, please call 911 immediately.
Stroke treatment
As a longstanding partner of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, we are committed to providing exceptional stroke diagnosis and treatment.
Medication is an important component of successful stroke care. Depending on your condition and level of overall wellness, you may be able to receive tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a clot-busting medication that can prevent stroke damage. This medication typically needs to be administered within the first few hours after the onset of symptoms. Aside from medication management, our stroke program also includes:
- Appropriate specialist referrals
- Continuity of care through intensive care and stroke units
- Early stabilization of brain and body functions
- Education about preventing future complications, such as pneumonia, bladder infections, muscle changes and skin breakdown
- Emergency care in our leading-edge emergency room
- Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation
- Recovery guidance
Telestroke ambulance program
Our innovative virtual ambulance program exemplifies our delivering the highest quality care in critical situations. Our telestroke ambulance program is led by ambulance crews who can contact expert neurologists to virtually consult on your care while you or your loved one is on the way to the hospital ER.
Committed to our community
We are dedicated to serving our community. As the designated resource hospital for several local ambulance services, we provide emergency education and life-saving training throughout the area.
Frequently asked questions
We aim to answer the most common questions we receive about our emergency care. Understanding your diagnosis, medications and treatment is important — we’re here to help.
What should I bring to the emergency room?
We understand that most visits to the emergency room aren't planned. However, if possible, please bring the following:
- Contact information for your primary care doctor (if you have one)
- Health insurance card
- List of current prescription medications and dosages
- List of allergies
- Photo ID
After your visit, we will notify your primary care doctor to ensure follow-up care instructions are communicated.
Will filling out paperwork delay my treatment?
No, you’re required to sign a consent form for medical treatment – unless you’re unconscious or arrived by ambulance or helicopter. For individuals under age 18, a parent or legal guardian must complete and sign the paperwork.
Creating a record of your visit begins with the registration process. You will need to provide personal health information, family medical history and medical insurance information. To make this process quick and easy, please remember to bring a list of your current medications and dosages, the name of your primary care doctor, your insurance card and a list of allergies. After your visit, the emergency room will notify your primary care doctor for follow-up care.
How and when do I pay for my treatment?
We’ll bill your insurance if you provide complete information during registration. Most plans include an emergency room co-pay, which will be listed on your insurance card. You’re responsible for any remaining balance. A representative will help arrange a fair payment schedule if you do not have insurance.
Can visitors come to the emergency room?
To protect your privacy and ensure the highest quality care, we limit the number of visitors. Two waiting areas are available for loved ones.
What happens if I need to be admitted to the hospital?
If you need to be admitted to the hospital, we will transfer you to the proper care unit as quickly as possible. We will also keep your primary care provider informed about the care you receive.
Are minor injuries or illnesses handled differently?
We treat minor, nonurgent injuries and illnesses in a separate area. Our nurse practitioners, nurses and paramedics work closely with emergency room doctors for faster evaluation and treatment.
What happens after my visit to the emergency room?
You may have tests during your visit. Once diagnosed, we’ll give you discharge instructions and prescriptions if needed. If anything is unclear, just ask. You are responsible for your own care after leaving the emergency room and we recommend scheduling follow-up care with your primary care provider.
In some cases, you may need help from a loved one to get safely home. If you need additional assistance, please ask. We want to ensure you return home safely and maintain good health.
We understand that most visits to the emergency room aren't planned. However, if possible, please bring the following:
- Contact information for your primary care doctor (if you have one)
- Health insurance card
- List of current prescription medications and dosages
- List of allergies
- Photo ID
After your visit, we will notify your primary care doctor to ensure follow-up care instructions are communicated.
No, you’re required to sign a consent form for medical treatment – unless you’re unconscious or arrived by ambulance or helicopter. For individuals under age 18, a parent or legal guardian must complete and sign the paperwork.
Creating a record of your visit begins with the registration process. You will need to provide personal health information, family medical history and medical insurance information. To make this process quick and easy, please remember to bring a list of your current medications and dosages, the name of your primary care doctor, your insurance card and a list of allergies. After your visit, the emergency room will notify your primary care doctor for follow-up care.
We’ll bill your insurance if you provide complete information during registration. Most plans include an emergency room co-pay, which will be listed on your insurance card. You’re responsible for any remaining balance. A representative will help arrange a fair payment schedule if you do not have insurance.
To protect your privacy and ensure the highest quality care, we limit the number of visitors. Two waiting areas are available for loved ones.
If you need to be admitted to the hospital, we will transfer you to the proper care unit as quickly as possible. We will also keep your primary care provider informed about the care you receive.
We treat minor, nonurgent injuries and illnesses in a separate area. Our nurse practitioners, nurses and paramedics work closely with emergency room doctors for faster evaluation and treatment.
You may have tests during your visit. Once diagnosed, we’ll give you discharge instructions and prescriptions if needed. If anything is unclear, just ask. You are responsible for your own care after leaving the emergency room and we recommend scheduling follow-up care with your primary care provider.
In some cases, you may need help from a loved one to get safely home. If you need additional assistance, please ask. We want to ensure you return home safely and maintain good health.