Last year around 5,000 emergencies were seen in the Emergency Department of VMH. In addition to treating medical emergencies locally, ER staff members are able to determine when a patient’s condition requires that they be stabilized and transferred to a larger medical facility.

Vernon Memorial Hospital is the closest full-service facility for treating medical emergencies for many area ambulance squads. Although squads are trained to respond to emergencies “in the field”, their chief goal is to stabilize the patient and to transport them to the closest facility with emergency medical services.

In the Emergency Department you will find a staff with a variety of qualifications. Medical providers, nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics spring into action in the case of an emergency. Often, a patient or ambulance attendant calls in ahead of their arrival, so the emergency team can be ready for instant action. If necessary, additional staff are called into the department, for x-rays, blood work, CT scans, or MRIs. If surgery seems likely, a surgeon and anesthetist will be on standby. When the patient arrives, they receive immediate professional care.


In addition to emergency medicine, the department provides many other services:

After Hours Care provides urgent medical care when your regular clinic is closed. Hours are 6-10 P.M., Monday - Friday. After Hours Care is billed at a lesser rate than emergency care but at a higher rate than a clinic visit, and is covered by most insurance programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. Treatment takes place just steps away from the Emergency Department. This service has grown in popularity with the increase in families with parents working during the day, and having to deal with medical problems outside of regular clinic hours.

Telephone triage and assistance, with calls being answered by registered nurses, assists the caller in determining the degree of medical emergency and advice on what action to take.

The Emergency Department monitors and provides emergency response for MedLink In-Home Emergency Response System and also provides information and referrals regarding this service. MedLink brings convenience and security into the homes of those with special needs. In an emergency, the user presses the “alert” key on the MedLink phone. MedLink’s automatic emergency system will automatically dial preset numbers of persons on the client’s list of helpers. If there is no answer, the phone will automatically dial the VMH Emergency Department. The speaker system on the MedLink phone immediately activates to allow hands-free two-way voice communication. If the client is unable to verbally respond, the department knows that immediate help is needed.

Human Tissue Donations - VMH Emergency Department is affiliated with ATSF (American Tissue Services Foundation). and can provide information to potential donors and assistance with donations.

Interactive training - VMH serves as a clinical site for EMS students, providing a critical portion of their training. All EMT’s are required to work in an emergency room prior to receiving their license.