Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West - Emergency

Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West Emergency Department is an accredited Chest Pain Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center in Nashville, Tennessee, backed by leading cardiovascular, surgical, transplant, neuro, stroke, and orthopedic specialists. We provide 24/7 care for life-threatening and severe illness and injury -- including heart attack, stroke, concussion, broken bones, and more. Experienced ER care teams listen to quickly understand your needs to deliver the right care for you and your family. You are connected to the right follow-up care across Ascension Saint Thomas sites of care by our specialists before you leave the ER—including orthopedic care, cancer care, heart care, and stroke care.

Seconds count in stroke, heart and septic shock, seek emergency care immediately. You can tell your family, friends and EMS to take you to your nearest Ascension Saint Thomas emergency room. 

Emergency care services include:

• 24/7 emergency care
• Accredited Chest Pain Center
• Admission (when needed) to Ascension hospitals
• Board-certified emergency care doctors and ER nurses
• Comprehensive Stroke Center
• On-call specialists
• On-site full-service digital imaging (X-ray, CT scan, MRI and ultrasound)
• On-site lab
• Private treatment rooms

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or dial 911. Signs or symptoms of an acute emergency may include shortness of breath, chest pain, open fracture, fainting, severe bleeding, head injury or other major trauma, one-sided weakness or numbness, loss of consciousness or fainting, severe abdominal pain, or bites or stings.

Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West Emergency Department became the first in the state to be recognized for specialized care for patients age 65 and older by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). With a Level III geriatric accreditation, the Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West Emergency Department will continue to serve patients of all ages.

Care right away -- 24/7 emergency care

Doctors, nurses and care teams in our ER at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West deliver advanced care for life-threatening symptoms and conditions. Call 911 or go directly to an emergency room if you or a family member are experiencing:

• Abdominal pain (moderate to severe)
• Back pain (severe)
• Chest pain
• Coughing up or vomiting blood
• Severe allergic reactions
• Severe skin infections or complicated abscesses
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden neurologic changes like weakness, difficulty speaking, numbness, difficulty walking, or loss of consciousness

Advanced emergency care for stroke

Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West Emergency Department is certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, a national healthcare accreditation organization. Comprehensive Stroke Centers deliver advanced imaging and treatment for complex stroke, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Your stroke care includes:

• 24/7 monitoring 
• Advanced imaging, such as CT angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 
• Doctors specializing in neurosurgery, neurovascular and endovascular procedures
• Neuroscience intensive care unit (ICU)
• Rehabilitation services

Connected to specialized follow-up care

Your care doesn’t stop when you leave the ER. We help connect you to leading specialists and follow-up care to support your care plan and recovery. Your care team also helps you manage your medications and sends prescriptions to your local pharmacy or through Ascension Rx. And you will always have access to our other services, like imaging and lab.