Nearest E.R.??

[Aim]

Ok folks, I am probably heading to Highline on Military Road, as that’s what google is netting me, but for future reference, what is the nearest emergency room to WS? Specifically I am in “South Delridge” near Westwood Village, and seem to be having an asthma attack. Diagnosed yesterday, and suddenly having trouble breathing properly.

As I said I will likely head out to Highline momentarily, but is anything closer?

Thanks in advance.

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[WSB]

I think that’s the closest – from the other end of WS it might be Harborview on First Hill, but I just compared via Mapquest directions, and from Westwood Village, Highline is 5 miles, while Harborview is 8 miles. Hope you are OK now.

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[Aim]

Thank you.

I am feeling a bit better so haven’t gone in, but it’s good to know where to go just in case.

I can’t believe I’ve lived in WS 4+ years and didn’t know where to find the nearest E.R.

Hope this helps other folks.

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[JanS]

Aim…remember…if it really gets bad, don’t hesitate to call 911….they will be there in a matter of minutes. And the EMT’s are great…really. Quicker than taking yourself to an ER while you’re having problems breathing.

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[Aim]

Thanks Jan. I know my partner isn’t the least bit afraid to dial 911 if need be. I was already warned earlier this evening that there’d be an ambulance on the way if I got any worse.

I’m in bed at this point, just kinda chillin. Things seem to be settling down. We went out for a bit on a roundabout of all the drug stores in the area, looking for a peak flow meter to see if I could keep an eye on it myself.

However, apparently no drugstore in this area stays open past 6pm (pharmacy part anyway) and the flow meters are kept behind the counter. Makes me wonder if they’re a high-theft item or what. and why on earth they would be…

We still need to get a WS Gimpy Coffee Klatch going. I’m thinking maybe in a couple of weeks when things settle down a bit would be good for me.

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[JanS]

Yes, we do have a few of us on here, don’t we? Take care of you…and if you’re up to it, remember the WSB “recommendation/award” evening at Capers on 1/18. And then…maybe a Saturday at..hmm..C & P? Uptown? someplace in between here and there? Glad you’re doing OK.

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[Sue]

Aim, according to Walgreen’s website there is a 24 hr. pharmacy and drugstore in Burien: 14656 Ambaum Blvd SW, Store: (206) 901-1816, Pharmacy: (206) 901-1816. I’d call and confirm that though – I’ve never been there so can’t say for sure.

I hope you are feeling better now. I have often wondered where the nearest ER is, and assumed it was Highline, but it might be helpful if I would look at a map and find out how to get there! Kinda funny that I know where the 24 hr. pet ER is, but not the one for me! Even if Highline wasn’t closest, I think I’d feel more comfortable not having to drive over the WS bridge to get there, in case there were backups headed downtown. I could probably get downtown faster if it was all clear, but if not, it could be a mess.

Jan, I forgot we had talked once about that WS Gimpy Coffee Klatch. :) Let me know if you plan something. Unfortunately I’ve got plans on 1/18 and can’t make the Capers event. But we still need another date for pie. I was so disappointed last week to go over to Shoofly last week and find out they were closed on vacation until the 15th!

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[Aim]

Thanks for the info on the Walgreen’s Sue. I knew there was one in Renton, though i wasn’t up to going any further last night. I was worn out just checking the 3 drugstores nearby. And mmmmm shoofly. Have you guys had Elliott Bay’s bread pudding yet? Ask to substitute the Stout Wort ice cream instead of vanilla, and it’s simply heaven. They have a spaghetti and meatballs special this month that’s also insanely good. OK, apparently I’m hungry…

While I didn’t end up needing it last night, we did find out exactly where Highline’s nearest ER is (there are two)

Go directly down Delridge, keep on it as it goes through White Center and then turns into Ambaum. Turn left on 128th, and right on Military Road. It’s essentially at 128th and Military. From my house it’s about 5 miles, and estimated at 10-14 minutes.

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[Aim]

I also checked for the nearest pet ER as soon as I moved here… I agree it’s almost funny we know how to get our “kids” taken care of but not ourselves.

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[DJSonsteng]

Hey everyone,

I am EMT in the local Seattle/King County area so I thought I might be able to help you all out since I spend a lot of time at the local hospitals.

Highline- 16251 Sylvester Rd S- This is the main campus and the ER entrance is located just south of SW 160th St on 8th Ave SW. This is their main ER, the ER at 128th and Military Rd (Riverton Campus) is more of an urgent care. If you go to the Riverton Campus and your symptoms are more severe than they can handle,you are in active labor, or they need to admit you. They will trasfer you to the main campus by ambulance, which is aprox an $800 ride.

Harborview Medical Center- 325 9th Ave- Harborview is the only Level I adult and pediatric trauma center and regional burn center serving Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. They are ALWAYS busy and always packed. Harborview’s Centers of Emphasis for neurosciences, trauma, burns, reconstruction and rehabilitation, mentally ill and medically vulnerable, and AIDS/STD treatment provide leading edge teaching,research, and clinical care for all patients. They are also the only county hospital. Harborview gets the majority of the Airlifts from outside of seattle due to their level 1 rating. One of two major teaching hospitals for UW Medicine

Swedish First Hill-747 Broadway- The ER here is located on the West side of the building. They are fairly busy on a regular basis. They don’t really handle major Trauma.

This is what else is located at first hill:

Swedish Cancer Institute

Swedish Orthopedic Institute

Emergency Room

Emergency Room for Children

Eye Center

Health Education Classes

Joslin Diabetes Center

Medical Imaging Services

Pediatric Specialties

Primary Care

Surgical Services

Women’s Health & Childbirth Services

Swedish Cherry Hill-500-17th Avenue- The ER is located on the west side of the building.

This is whats offered at Cherry Hill:

The Swedish Heart and Vascular Institute

The Swedish Neuroscience Institute

Behavioral Health

Breast Center

Emergency Room

Executive Health Center

Orthopedics

Primary Care

Surgical Services

Rehabilitation

Wound Healing Center

Virgina Mason Medical Center- 1100 9th ave- The ERis located on the south side of the building. This ER is on the smaller side, but they are building a new one in the next few years.

UW Medical center-1959 NE Pacific -Among the top dozen medical centers in the United States as rated by U.S. News & World Report 2007 “America’s Best Hospitals.One of two major teaching hospitals for UW Medicine. This is quite a ways from West Seattle espically during rush hour.

Childrens Hospital-4800 Sand Point Way NE- Pretty much self explanitory. Most kids with trauma type injurys will go to Harborview if transported by ambulance or medics.

Valley Medical-400 South 43rd Street- South King county trauma center. Valley is a level III trauma center. They handle anything. This is a ways from West Seattle as well.

All the other hospitals in King County are a fair distance from West Seattle. The exception of is West Seattle Psychiatric Hospital @ 2600 SW Holden St. West Seattle Psych has the capacity to serve individuals who voluntarily seek psychiatric inpatient services. Case management, counseling, crisis stabilization services, group services, vocational services, domestic violence treatment, expanding community services program and child/adolescent psychiatry are other main services provided by the hospital.

I hope this information helps.

D.J.

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[jeepers]

Swedish on California worked for me– although probably not for not major injuries or illnesses…

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[hopey]

D.J., do you have any opinions on the care and treatment quality at Highline? I moved to WS about ~6 months ago, and am looking at a primary care physician who is at Highline. But there seems to be SUCH a bias towards Swedish here that it’s making me skittish.

I realize you may not be able to speak to “everyday” physicians, but if you had a non-life-threatening case and traffic wasn’t an issue, in an ideal world which ER would you choose?

Thanks in advance…

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[Sue]

D.J., thanks so much for sharing your expertise with us – this list is very helpful and I’m going to print it out for future reference. I appreciate the time you spent sharing that with us!

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[DJSonsteng]

These are my opinions and my opinions only. They do not reflect the views of anyone other than myself. I do not intend for any of this to be taken as medical advice.

I think that there is such a huge biased towards Swedish is that it has the most individual hospitals spread around the county. You have First Hill, Cherry Hill, Ballard, Issaquah. Rumors have it that they are building at least one more hospital in the general area. Out in the issaquah highlands. They also have the West Seattle Clinic and Swedish childrens physcians, which my son is seen at. Swedish is a good hospital. They have a variety of specialties the only problem is that they are spread out around the city.

I think the key is finding a Primary Care Provider (PCP) that you like. I wouldn’t necessarly worry about what hospital they are connected to. You can go to whatever hospital you want in an emergency. You aren’t going to see your PCP at the er so it doesn’t make a huge difference. Even if you PCP works for the hospital ER you go to it doesn’t mean that they will be able to pull your records out of thin air. Personaly I have had bad experiences at several hospitals around the area. I’m talking off duty I was there for me or one of my family members. They are all good ERs some better than others, but I’m not sure that my opinion on which are better than others should make a difference.

Now I don’t mean this to sound mean or anything of the sort but: In an ideal world only truly Life or Death emergencys would go to the ER. That being said we don’t live in an ideal world. Heres how I look at the local hospitals.

Harborview- I would ONLY go here if I had a severe burn or just chopped off a limb or had a major traumatic injury.

Childrens- They don’t just treat the kid they take care of the whole family. I would try to see my regular peditrician before I went to childrens. But if my 1 year old NEEDS to go to the ER you can bet I’m taking him to childrens.

For me or my wife I would probably go to Swedish Cherry Hill Its a more low key ER. I would probably go to First hill as well, Its busier than cherry hill but still a good choice. I’ve only ever dropped off paitents at the UW but it seems like a good ER from everything that I have seen. In the end it all really depends on what your are going to the ER for. Hopefully none of you have to use my advice to frequently or at all.

Sorry about all the rambeling its 1215am and I just got home from a 14 hour shift. So if I just babbled and it doesn’t really make a complete thought just let me know and I’ll see if I can try again.

D.J.

Just a reminder if you feel that you are having a life threatening emergency please don’t hesitate to call 911.

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[JanS]

DJ…first…thank you for the wonderful job you do….and your lengthy advice. You see it all firsthand, I’m sure.

Having said that, 12 years ago next month I became deathly ill, and as I was being taken out to an ambulance from my home they asked me where I wanted to go. I said “Harborview” off the top of my head…I didn’t care, I was in pain, just get me there – lol. Well, it was one of the best decisions I could have made. I spent hours in the ER…a Feb. Thursday evening, cold, rainy, close to 5pm, rush hour, and auto accidents came before me. But…I ended up being admitted, and was there for 5 weeks….and the care was incredible. It’s a teaching hospital, and I had so many docs on my case that I couldn’t count them all.I know there are some down sides to Harborview, but for me, it was a life saver, literally, and I just picked them at random.

I hope they give you a bit of time off after a 14 hour shift, that you get to sleep in in the morning :)

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[Kayleigh]

I fell while running one day, and spent 7 (!) hours in the Highline Hospital ER, nearly all of it waiting my turn. They told me it was unusually busy that night, but let me tell you, with a raging infection spreading through my abrasions and cuts, I was in a lot of pain for a long time.

I did get good care once I was seen. But my advice in an emergency: go to Swedish Cherry Hill (formerly Providence) or one of the hospitals on First Hill. That way, if you happen to be triaged behind lots of others, you have the option of a quick drive to another hospital (no guarantee it will less crowded at another hospital, but there’s at least a chance.)

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[DJSonsteng]

Just a quick note the UW is a teaching hospital as well. In case you do or don’t want that. It does mean a lot of different care givers, but like Jan said it does for good care. I have never been a paitent at either harborview or UW though. But I think thats a good thing.

D.J.

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[DJSonsteng]

Quick note… I was talking to my wife about this topic and her opinion is that she would go to swedish first hill ER if it didn’t cost more. The ER docs at swedish are not actual swedish employees they are contracted through a private agency. We have really good insurance and we get a bigger bill of what insurance doesn’t cover. Thats another thing if you are a group health paitent you want to go to Virgina Mason. They are a group health contractor. Her second choice is highline. So there is another point of view for you. My wife is in the medical field as well.

D.J.

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[k]

DJ-YOU ROCK! thank you for this info! hopefully, none of us will need it, but it’s great to have on hand! i appreciate the time you took to inform us!

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[Anonymous]

Just wanted to add this bit of information relating to emergencies we have with our pets, afew years ago our much beloved dog had an emergency in the middle of the night we called the vets office and were told of the after hours clinic for pets in Bellevue. Yes that may be a bit of a drive for some but it was so well worth it for us. Very compassionate people work there! They literally saved our dogs life.

After Hours Animal Emergency Clinic

2975 156th Ave SE

Bellevue, WA 98007

(425) 641-8414

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[hopey]

Why would you go that far for a pet emergency when there is a 24 hour vet hospital in Burien?

VCA FIVE CORNERS ANIMAL HOSPITAL

15707 1ST AVENUE SOUTH

BURIEN, WA 98148

Phone: 206-243-2982

http://www.vcafivecorners.com/

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