Your Emergency Department Guide
UCLA Health emergency department (ED) doctors, nurses and support staff understand that medical emergencies can be stressful and disorienting. We follow rigorous protocols and guidelines to ensure that all patients receive the highest quality and safest care as quickly as possible.
We’ve designed this guide to help you understand the ED process and the stages of your visit so that you have a better experience.
Find Your Care
If you’re having an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
To reach the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Emergency Department,
call 310-825-2111.
To reach the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center Emergency Department,
call 424-259-8400.
Stages of Your Visit
Your visit to the ED will include the following stages:
Stage 1: Getting Checked In
- A registration clerk/ED tech checks you in and creates a new visit in your medical record.
Stage 2: Prioritizing Your Care
- A triage nurse reviews your symptoms and determines how we should begin your care.
- Your temperature, heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure are measured.
Stage 3: Waiting to See a Doctor
- At this stage, most patients are waiting for an available space to see a doctor. At Ronald Reagan you may be asked to wait in the outdoor tents which serve as our expanded waiting room.
- A staff member will always be nearby if you have questions or if your symptoms change.
- Depending on your care needs, you may have your blood drawn or you may receive imaging such as an X-ray. This helps us use your time efficiently and gives doctors the information they need to care for you.
Stage 4: Getting Evaluated & Treated
- You may be placed in a treatment area where your medical team will come to evaluate you. Since Ronald Reagan is a teaching facility, your medical team may include medical students, resident physicians and a supervising attending physician.
- Your doctor may recommend certain tests or consult specialized doctors to help diagnose your condition.
- Tests may include blood or urine tests, X-rays or a heart rhythm test (EKG).
- Additional specialized tests may include ultrasound, CT scan or MRI.
- Based on your specific medical needs, you may be given medications.
- As your evaluation and treatment continue, you may be moved to the Results Waiting Area (RWA) tent, where nurses will reassess your condition. In some cases, you may be placed in a hallway care area and assigned a nurse who will support you throughout your ED visit.
Stage 5: Registering
- Once a doctor has performed a medical screening, one of our registration staff will come to update your contact and insurance information.
- Registrars are always available to answer any billing related questions and or provide financial resources.
Stage 6: Reviewing Results & Next Steps
- Once we have received results from all labs, imaging and specialty consults, the doctor can determine the best course of care. Patients generally follow one of these three routes:
- Hospital stay at UCLA Health for additional treatment
- Transfer to another hospital for continued care
- Discharged from the ED with recommendation to follow up with primary care doctor or specialist
- UCLA Health doctors care for patients at five hospitals. Your care team may discuss options for inpatient care or observation at:
- Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
- Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA
- UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital
- UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
- UCLA West Valley Medical Center
- Your health insurance plan may request that you be transferred to an outside hospital. Your care team will discuss this with you so you can plan prior to hospital transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to wait?
Due to the unpredictable nature of the emergency department and varying patient volumes, we are unable to provide exact wait times. Patients are seen based on the severity of their condition, and each step of care takes time.
Can I have visitors?
- Adult patients in the ED may have one healthy visitor at their bedside.
- Pediatric patients may have two healthy visitors or guardians at a time.
- Visitors may be asked to leave if the department becomes overcrowded.
Can I wait in my car?
No. For your safety, we cannot allow you to wait in your car. Staying in the designated areas allows staff to reassess you and provide immediate care if your condition changes. It also helps ensure you do not miss being called for your evaluation, tests or treatment, which could delay your care.
When can I eat?
This depends on your condition and the tests or treatments you may need. For safety, some patients must wait until they are evaluated by a provider before eating or drinking.
Can I be discharged and be called with my result?
Before you can be safely discharged, we need to review all your test results. This ensures your care plan is complete and that no important findings are missed.
Disclaimer: Every ED experience is unique, and your journey may differ. This outline is intended to provide a general overview of the ED process.
Get 24/7 access to your health information with myUCLAhealth
During your ED visit, log in to our patient portal at my.uclahealth.org to:
- View your latest test results.
- Review your medications and request prescription refills.
- Message your UCLA Health doctors.
- Schedule follow-up appointments.
Your Care Team
Our ED team members wear color-coded scrubs for easy identification.
Badge Info
In addition to clothing identifiers, each team member wears a UCLA Health ID badge that includes their name and their role.
After Your ED Visit
Please follow your discharge instructions after you leave and complete all recommended follow-up visits. If you do not have a primary care doctor, please speak to a case manager before you leave the ED to ensure you have a plan for follow-up care.