Emergency Department

BCMH Emergency Department

Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Medical emergency? Call 911.

• Emergency Services: 660-200-7050
• Real Time Text (RTT): 660-464-0303
• 615 W. Nursery St., Butler, MO 64730 – Get Directions

When should I go to the Emergency Department?

The Emergency Department provides care for serious, sudden or potentially life-threatening illnesses and injuries. If you are unsure whether a condition is an emergency, it is safest to seek medical attention.

Examples of conditions that may require emergency care include:

• Chest pain, pressure or other symptoms of a possible heart attack
• Trouble breathing or severe shortness of breath
• Signs of a stroke, such as sudden weakness, numbness, confusion or difficulty speaking
• Severe bleeding
• Serious injuries, including injuries from falls or accidents
• Loss of consciousness or a seizure
• Severe allergic reactions
• Sudden, severe pain or illness

For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

What should I expect when I arrive?

When you arrive at the Emergency Department, you will be evaluated by our emergency care team. Patients are prioritized based on the seriousness of their condition, so patients with the most serious or life-threatening conditions are seen first.

Your care may include:

• Registration and an initial medical assessment
• Evaluation by an emergency physician
• Laboratory testing, imaging or other diagnostic tests
• Medications, procedures or other treatment as needed
• Consultation with specialists, including through emergency telemedicine when appropriate

Wait times can vary depending on the number of patients in the department and the seriousness of the conditions being treated. Even if you are asked to wait, your condition may be reassessed as needed.

What happens after I’m evaluated?

After your evaluation and treatment, your emergency physician will discuss the next steps in your care. Depending on your condition, you may be:

• Discharged home with instructions for continued care and follow-up
• Admitted to BCMH for additional treatment and monitoring
• Transferred to another hospital if specialized care or services are needed

If you are discharged, you will receive instructions about medications, follow-up care and when to seek additional medical attention.

Ambulance Services

Bates County Memorial Hospital provides 24-hour advanced life support (ALS) ambulance service to the residents of Bates County.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. Emergency medical personnel can begin care while you are being transported and can communicate with the hospital before you arrive.

BCMH also works with air and ground ambulance services when a patient needs to be transferred to another facility for specialized care.

For additional information, visit: Bates County Ambulance Services

For an emergency ambulance, call 911.

Emergency Telemedicine at BCMH

Telemedicine may be used at Bates County Memorial Hospital to assess patients presenting with stroke symptoms. A neurologist from an accredited stroke treatment center evaluates the patient via telemedicine alongside the emergency physician. The two of them jointly determine a plan of action, which may include the administration of thrombolytic “clot-busting” medications.

Telemedicine provides the patient and health care professional with a way to evaluate, diagnose and even treat certain time-sensitive medical conditions with input from specialists at a remote location. Live video and audio of the patient are viewable by the specialist, while at the same time the patient is looking at and talking to an expert in treating their condition.

Patient outcomes may be greatly improved with early stroke treatment, including thrombolytics. For more information, contact the Emergency Services Supervisor at 660-200-7119.

Air Medical Transport Services

At Bates County Memorial Hospital, emergency patients may be transferred by air ambulance due to life-threatening situations. The hospital utilizes the services of air medical transport services such as LifeFlight Eagle. These air ambulance helicopters land on the hospital’s helipad located south of the hospital.

Emergency Physicians

Emergency Department physicians at BCMH are contracted providers through Electric City Emergency Physicians, LLC. Patients seen in the ER will receive a bill from the hospital as well as from Electric City Emergency Physicians.