24/7

Meriter's Emergency Services Department (ED) is open 24 hours-a-day, every day, to anyone who needs emergency treatment. 
• Meriter's ED serves more than 40,000 patients each year from Dane County and the surrounding area.
• We provide treatment for trauma, cardiac, stroke, pediatric, orthopedic, gastrointestinal, OB/GYN, psychiatric, ear, nose, and throat, and dental care emergencies.
• Our ED is staffed by physicians who are board certified in Emergency Medicine and pediatric hospitalists who are board certified in Pediatric Medicine. Our registered nursing staff maintains certifications in the specialty areas of pediatric emergencies and trauma care.
• We pride ourself on easy access to care and treatment. We offer two separate, easily marked entrances - one for patients arriving on their own, and one for patients arriving via ambulance.
• Parking is available right next to the main ED entrance for patient convenience.
• Our waiting room features a television, wireless access, current reading materials and oxygen hook-ups for pulmonary patients.
• Beverage and food vending machines are nearby for family and friends of patients.

Pediatric Center

Our Pediatric Center cares for more than 5,000 children each year for emergency, observation and inpatient care because their parents trust Meriter’s emergency physicians and nursing staff, as well as the pediatric hospitalists who provide care 24/7 to our youngest patients. 

The Pediatric Center was designed with the family in mind and includes a child-friendly waiting area. Each in-patient room is outfitted with a sleeper-chair, full bathroom and entertainment center in an effort to make an unexpected hospital stay as comfortable as possible.

Rest assured, our team, who is specifically trained in handling children's medical needs, will work closely with you and your child's pediatrician to ensure the highest quality of care.

Chest Pain Center

Meriter has Wisconsin’s first accredited Chest Pain Center awarded by the Society of Chest Pain Centers and Provider Accreditation. This third party recognition is a strong endorsement of the quality of our care.

Additionally, Meriter consistently achieves 'door to balloon' times (an important measure of effective heart care) within the national standard of less than 90 minutes.

During a heart attack, time is muscle. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack could save your life or the life of a loved one.

Symptoms?  Call 911!
If you experience symptoms, call 911 and have emergency personnel get you to the hospital - they are experts in managing emergencies and have the knowledge and equipment needed to begin treatment of your heart. EMS maintain two-way communication with the Emergency Department, so that care can be continued as soon as you arrive at the hospital. 

SANE Program

Meriter’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program, the only one of its kind in Dane County, provides care for sexual assault victims from any surrounding community.

When to Call 911

Medical emergencies happen far more often than you may think. In Madison, one of every three persons is treated for a medical emergency each year. Chances are that you, a close friend or family member will need emergency care during the course of an average year. Because seconds can make a difference, it's important to become familiar with the emergency numbers in your area. If you live in Dane County and have a life-threatening emergency or need an ambulance, call 911.

Life-threatening situations require immediate medical intervention. Call 911 whenever the following symptoms are involved:
• Loss of consciousness
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Extensive burns
• Weakness to one side of the body or difficulty speaking
• Poisoning
• Severe allergic reactions
• Severe, unaccustomed headache
• Chemical injuries

These are only examples, of course you must use your own judgment to decide if an ambulance is needed.