IN AN EMERGENCY, DIAL 9-1-1.

Emergency Department (ED)

Mount Nittany Medical Center's recently expanded Emergency Department (ED) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, treating patients who require emergency and urgent care. All staff is trained in this specialty. Our ED registered nurses have advanced training in emergency nursing. Our physicians are board-certified in emergency medicine and have advanced level training in cardiac and trauma life support. Our physician assistants are under the direction of the Emergency Department Physicians.

Basic Care

Basic Care is the urgent care area of the Emergency Department, routinely treating illnesses such as sore throat, fever and urinary tract infection, and injuries such as sprains or possible fractures.

If you are ill or injured and need immediate attention, particularly when University Health Services (UHS) is closed, Basic Care Services can help you. Patients are seen generally on a first-come, first-served basis—our goal is to examine, treat and discharge most patients within 1.5 hours of arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should I Bring With Me?

The most important things to know are any CURRENT MEDICATIONS you are taking and any ALLERGIES you have, either to medicines, food or latex. If you have your HEALTH INSURANCE CARD (usually under your parent's insurance for undergraduates), you can bring that along. If you do not have your insurance card, come anyway, and the Registration Office will help you get that information later for billing purposes. You do not need to pay for services when you come for care.

Can I Bring a Friend With Me?

Of course. Particularly when you are away from your family, friends offer good support and can make the experience less uncomfortable. Generally, one person can accompany you to the treatment area if you wish, or that person can wait in the waiting area. If several friends accompany you, only one can be with you in the treatment area while the others wait in the waiting area.

Do You Help Someone Who Has Been Sexually Assaulted?

Most definitely. The Medical Center in cooperation with the community has a multidisciplinary team on call to assist victims of sexual assault. A registered nurse, an advocate from the Women's Resource Center and a police officer are involved and can provide care, treatment and emotional support—they remain with the person and are available for questions throughout the time in the Emergency Department. Options are also fully explained and strict confidentiality is maintained. There is no charge for these services, including the Medical Center and doctor's usual charges. During their regular hours, University Health Services can also provide care and follow-up for students who have been sexually assaulted.

If I brought one of my friends who had too much alcohol to the Medical Center, what would happen?

If you ever feel someone has had too much to drink to the extent that they are passed out and unable to be awakened, please bring that person to the Medical Center immediately. The situation can be life-threatening. If the person is able to get into a taxi, you can use that to get him or her to the Medical Center. (See the information under How to Get To Mount Nittany Medical Center.) If the person is not able to get into a taxi, call 911 for the ambulance. The main purpose of the Emergency Department is to provide the best medical care and treatment for all people and conditions. We do not call the police, and we do not call parents without the patient's permission under most circumstances.

If a patient is not responsive and their condition is critical, no matter what the cause, we would call family. Otherwise, we would encourage any patient to contact important family members as appropriate to share information and avoid worry.

What About the Police?

The police are not routinely called by the Emergency Department unless required to do so by law. By law, we must contact the police if an assault has occurred. But please remember, potential loss of life or permanent injury are far more serious and medical safety ought to come first—legal ramifications of behaviors do exist and can be dealt with later. We will assist you in any way we can with negative consequences, but please consider the health and well-being of yourself and others as your first priority. If you are in doubt, call us (234.6110) or come to the Emergency Department and be sure.

Police DO automatically respond to all ambulance calls in Centre County, including any University-based calls.