If you are experiencing a medical or behavioral health emergency, please go immediately to your nearest emergency room or call 9-1-1.
When a medical emergency strikes, South Carolinians look to the experts at MUSC Health. We offer fast, expert treatment for complex injuries, life-threatening illnesses and serious health complications. Our team of specialists stands ready 24 hours a day to care for heart attack, stroke, accidents, and other serious medical problems.
MUSC Health is home to several prestigious designations and nationally recognized programs that help adults and children survive medical emergencies and return to their everyday lives. These programs and designations include:
MUSC Health is home to the only Adult Level I Trauma Center in Charleston, South Carolina — the highest designation for trauma care in the United States. Level I verification by the American College of Surgeons means we maintain 24/7 availability of trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, and subspecialty coverage for every type of severe injury and life-threatening illness, including internal bleeding and complex fractures.
MUSC Health Children's is home to South Carolina's only full-service pediatric emergency program and a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, available 24 hours a day for children with severe illnesses and injuries. Our pediatric emergency team includes specialists trained specifically to care for children — from newborns to teenagers.
The South Carolina Burn Center at MUSC Health is the only comprehensive burn care program in the state, treating burns of all severity — from routine to complex — in patients of every age. Patients across South Carolina receive advanced wound care, reconstructive surgery, and rehabilitation without traveling out of state.
MUSC Health's Chest Pain Center is accredited by the Joint Commission, with cardiovascular specialists available around the clock to rapidly diagnose and treat chest pain, heart attacks, and cardiac emergencies. Our team uses advanced imaging and diagnostic tools to identify life-threatening conditions and begin treatment immediately on arrival.
MUSC Health was the first program in South Carolina recognized as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Joint Commission — the highest stroke care designation in the United States. This means we offer the most advanced stroke treatments, including clot-busting drugs, mechanical thrombectomy, and neurovascular surgery, available immediately 24 hours a day.
MUSC Health's EmPATH unit — Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment & Healing — provides emergency evaluation and care for adults experiencing a mental health or behavioral health crisis, integrated within the emergency department 24 hours a day. Behavioral health specialists assess, stabilize, and connect patients with the appropriate level of follow-up care.
At MUSC Health, you have around-the-clock access to experienced doctors in nearly every medical specialty. For complex problems, we may coordinate with MUSC Health specialists for testing and treatments.
When you arrive at a MUSC Health emergency department, our team works as quickly as possible to assess and begin your care. Here is what to expect from arrival through discharge.
When you arrive, a team member will record your information and take your vital signs — including heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level, and temperature. Patients are not seen in the order they arrive. Our providers prioritize care based on medical urgency — patients at risk of permanent injury, disability, or death are seen first.
As soon as possible, a medical provider — physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant — will conduct an initial screening. They will ask about your symptoms, review your medical history, and begin your care plan. A triage nurse will then determine the best location in the department for your ongoing care based on your condition.
Additional testing and treatment will be ordered based on your condition. General timing guidelines: blood work takes approximately 60 minutes once received by the lab; imaging (X-ray, CT scan) may take 1 to 3 hours depending on patient volume; specialty consultations vary from minutes to several hours depending on availability and urgency. Care team members will provide updates and answer questions throughout your visit.
Once your emergency evaluation and treatment are complete, your care team will review your results and determine next steps — which may include discharge with follow-up instructions, hospital admission for further monitoring or treatment, or transfer to a specialty service within MUSC Health. Before you leave, you will receive written discharge instructions, prescription information if applicable, and guidance on follow-up care.
