Emergency Medicine

Delivering lifesaving treatments for serious injuries and illnesses.

ER staff with gurney rushing patient to ER

Emergency medicine in Westwood, California

UCLA Health excellence in emergency medicine

Our outstanding emergency medicine team is ready 24/7 to care for you and your family. When every minute counts, we deliver lifesaving care quickly and efficiently. Using the latest technology and effective treatments, we’re here for you when you need us. We’re proud to offer:

Advanced treatment for all ages: The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Emergency Department is a Level I trauma center and pediatric critical care center. Nethercutt Emergency Department in UCLA Health Santa Monica Medical Center has the only pediatric intensive care unit in the city of Santa Monica. Our outstanding team specializes in delivering the highest level of care to children and adults.

Expert care at several locations: Our emergency medicine team cares for nearly 500,000 people a year at seven sites across the Los Angeles area. Our experts serve one of the most diverse and densely populated areas in the nation. We are always ready to respond to the needs of our busy, vibrant community. View emergency department locations.

Highest quality stroke care: The UCLA Stroke Center is certified by The Joint Commission as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center. This distinction means we’ve met the nation’s highest standards for stroke care. The UCLA Health Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) was the first of its kind on the West Coast. With a specially equipped ambulance, our team of stroke experts delivers lifesaving treatments when every minute counts.

Recognized expertise: As designated Mission: Lifeline® (STEMI) Heart Attack Receiving Centers, our emergency departments have an established protocol to respond to heart attacks as quickly as possible. We ensure that heart attack patients reach our on-site cardiac catheterization lab in under 90 minutes. Fast response times mean better outcomes for our patients. Streamlined access to technology: On-site CT scanners speed diagnosis and treatment for a range of symptoms and conditions, including chest pain and stroke. Our EDs feature all-digital X-rays, state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization labs and quick turnaround times for lab results.

Our emergency department specialties

Our emergency medicine team includes highly trained physicians and nurses to treat the full range of life-threatening conditions. Many of our physicians have additional training in critical care, toxicology, pediatric emergency medicine, and sports medicine, to name a few. We also work with UCLA Health specialists to deliver state-of-the-art medical care.

Our Emergency Departments offer specialized care for Trauma, Stroke, Heart Attack, and we care for all patients from pediatrics to geriatrics. The Emergency Departments at Ronald Reagan UCLA and Santa Monica UCLA offer the highest quality emergency care to over 100,000 patients every year, and together with our affiliates, we see over 500,000 patients per year. We are commited to delivering the highest level of care to you and your family.

Conditions we treat

If you or your loved one is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go directly to the closest emergency department.

Our emergency medicine specialists treat a wide range of severe and life-threatening injuries and illnesses. These include:

Abdominal pain, severe vomiting, overdose or poisoning
Broken bones
Choking or trouble breathing
Head trauma, injury to neck or spine or loss of consciousness
Heart attack, chest pain and chest pressure
Life-threatening allergic reactions
Seizures
Severe burns or bleeding
Stroke, sudden weakness or trouble walking or talking

Our expert emergency department team

Our team includes more than 100 emergency medicine specialists across several locations. We are uniquely qualified to handle any emergency using sophisticated technology and the latest advances in care.