Morris Hospital - Emergency Services

Emergency Services

As part of our commitment to improving the health of area residents, Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers provides an advanced level of emergency care around the clock. Our Emergency Department is a Level II Trauma Center with the expertise and resources to diagnose and treat patients with a variety of medical conditions. More than 25,000 patients depend on us each year for quality emergency services, provided by a team that is committed to personalized, compassionate care. That is the true hallmark of emergency care at Morris Hospital.

Every patient who comes to Morris Hospital for emergency care is seen by a board-certified emergency medicine physician. Emergency medicine physicians are specially trained to evaluate and treat patients during the early, and often most critical stages of an illness or injury. The treatment team also includes physician assistants and nurse practitioners, who compliment the care provided by the emergency physicians. These services are provided by EPIC Group.

Morris Hospital is proud to have highly skilled emergency nurses, all who have certifications in emergency pediatric care and advanced cardiac life support. Many of our emergency nurses have additional certifications as a trauma nurse specialist and emergency communications radio nurse. Our emergency team works closely with paramedics and emergency medical technicians from 15 ambulance services throughout Grundy, LaSalle, Kendall and Will counties.

Depending on the diagnosis, patients can rest assured that an on-call physician is available in the following specialties: cardiology, family practice, gastroenterology, infectious disease, internal medicine, nephrology, neurology, obstetrics & gynecology, oncology, optometry, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology (ear, nose & throat), pediatrics, plastic surgery, psychiatry, pulmonary medicine, general surgery, trauma surgery and urology.

Pediatric Emergencies

Pediatric patients require specialized care. As part of our commitment to caring for families with young children, we have voluntarily achieved designation by the state of Illinois as an Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics. This means we have the specially trained staff, equipment and supplies needed to effectively provide emergency care for children, including nurses who have completed the Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course or have certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support. For pediatric patients who require a hospital stay following their emergency visit, our Pediatric Unit is designed to accommodate the medical needs of young patients.

We understand that prompt medical treatment is crucial in an emergency. Whether patients arrive by ambulance or car, our goal is to assess and begin treating patients as soon as possible after their arrival. One way we accomplish this is by having a nurse quickly assess patients as soon as they arrive. In fact, we postpone the registration process until after patients are settled in a treatment room. This allows patients to be seen by a physician sooner. And the sooner you see a physician, the sooner you'll be on your way home or to the next point of care. Our staff is also sensitive to assuring each patient's privacy and tending to the needs of family members.

Advanced Capabilities

Technological advancements are important in the diagnosis of emergencies. Morris Hospital is committed to maintaining specialized equipment that assists emergency physicians in assessing illness and injury. In the trauma room, an overhead x-ray unit enables critically ill and injured patients to undergo testing without leaving the emergency department. Our 64-slice CT scanner is another important piece of technology that is used to diagnose injuries for emergency patients.

Convenient Location

The emergency entrance is located off Lisbon Street on the west side of the Morris Hospital campus, with dedicated parking facilities for emergency patients. Patients are encouraged to call
9-1-1 in the event of a life-threatening emergency.

We are pleased to have the EPIC Group(TM) providing physician services in our Emergency Department along with their physician assistants. Each of the EPIC group physicians is board certified in emergency medicine. Together, with their physician assistants, the EPIC Group provides services in the Morris Hospital Emergency Department 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Patients will receive a separate bill from the EPIC Group.