Emergency Care

Count on North Oaks When You’re Faced with the Unexpected.

A sudden illness or injury can be a frightening experience, but you’re in good hands at the North Oaks Emergency Department, one of the busiest and most experienced in Louisiana. Our team of physicians and nurses is specially trained in emergency medicine, and combine expertise and compassion to help you and your family through emergency situations - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The North Oaks Emergency Department consists of 35 rooms equipped to handle everything from trauma to chest pain and eye injuries. The ER Annex is an 11-room unit adjacent to the Emergency Department for patients with medical problems that require minimal testing and treatment. The ER Annex is staffed with doctors and nurses who are trained in adult and pediatric medical care.

The ER Annex is typically open 14 hours a day, from 10 a.m. to midnight.

What to Expect

When you arrive in the ER, the first person you will encounter is a patient representative. The receptionist is available to call for assistance for those who need a wheelchair or help getting out of the car. A patient representative also notifies the triage nurse of all patient arrivals.

Next, you will be seen by the triage nurse, who is specially trained to determine the severity of your condition and the urgency of treatment. This assessment ensures that all patients receive the most appropriate medical treatment in a timely manner.

Once your condition is assessed, you will either be escorted directly to an exam room, if available, or asked to wait in the lobby. If you are asked to wait, please return to the triage area and ask to speak to a nurse if your condition changes or you have a question.

Bring Your Medications With You

Medications must be in their original container and labeled with the name of the medication, dosage and correct frequency. The label for a prescription medication must also include the patient’s name.

Wait Times

Our goal is to provide care to patients in our Emergency Department as quickly as possible. Many factors influence the wait time in the Emergency Department. Critically ill or injured patients are always seen before patients with less severe medical problems.

Other factors include:

  • number of other patients waiting
  • seriousness of their conditions
  • number of exam rooms and staff available
  • need for specialized rooms or equipment

Discharge Process

Before you leave the Emergency Department, you will receive information regarding:

  • your diagnosis
  • instructions on self-care for your illness or injury
  • the medications you have been prescribed
  • the name of the emergency physician who treated you
  • the name of the physician and clinic you are referred to for follow-up care that is required

If you have any questions regarding the care or treatment provided in the Emergency Department, please ask your doctor or nurse for further information.

North Oaks Medical Center
Emergency Department
15790 Paul Vega, MD, Drive
Hammond, LA 70403

To access emergency services, take North Oaks Drive to Jay Smith, MD, Drive. The Emergency Room entrance will be on the left.