Christopher Kahn, MD, MPH
- Emergency Medicine Physician
- Chief, Division of Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine
- Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Emergency Departments
Emergency Services
Call 911 for a life-threatening injury or illness
ER Wait Times
See approximate wait times at our three emergency departments
Poison Control
Call 800-222-1222
When every minute counts, rely on UC San Diego Health for 24/7 emergency medical care.
Using the latest technology and effective treatments, we're here for you when you need us. We'll stabilize your symptoms and treat your condition efficiently. Our hospitals — in La Jolla, Hillcrest and College Area — feature:
- Emergency medicine physicians trained in one or more specialties
- Full-time attending doctors available 24 hours a day
- Experienced nurses and other support staff, including those specializing in senior care
Our Hillcrest ER also has a Level 1 Trauma Care Center for critical or life-threatening injuries.
Emergency Services
Call 911 if you have a life-threatening injury or illness. Or go to the nearest ER for 24/7 emergency help.
ER Wait Times
Check approximate wait times at our East Campus, Hillcrest and La Jolla emergency departments. Please note that times reflect the approximate wait before your initial evaluation and may change unexpectedly.
Emergency Rooms Are Open 24 Hours
Patient Experience Rating
This is a summary of each location’s ratings within Emergency Services.
When to Go to ER, Urgent Care or Express Care
Emergency services: Our emergency rooms provide advanced care for people with major, life-threatening injuries or severe health conditions that require immediate attention. This includes broken bones, heart attacks, seizures, severe burns, strokes, poisoning, traumatic injuries and mental health emergencies. Our ERs are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for individuals of all ages.
Express Care or Urgent Care: If you have urgent health concerns that are not life-threatening or need same-day care for relatively minor conditions, our Urgent Care or Express Care clinics are convenient alternatives to the emergency room. Compared to an ER visit, our same-day care options are less costly and have shorter wait times. These locations are open every day.
Learn where you can go, based on age, symptoms and condition.
Symptoms and Conditions Treated in Patients of All Ages
- Chest pain
- Compound fracture
- Deep wound that needs stitches
- Disorientation and inability to speak
- Gunshot or knife wound
- High fever (including in newborn babies)
- Loss of consciousness
- Numbness or weakness on one side of the body
- Paralysis
- Persistent bleeding
- Poisoning
- Rapid testicular inflammation and pain
- Seizure
- Severe burn
- Severe heart palpitations
- Severe injuries, including those to the head or eyes
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden and severe head pain
- Vision loss
Traumatic Injuries
Life-threatening trauma injuries, such as a motor vehicle collision or gunshot wound, are treated in our Level 1 Trauma Center in Hillcrest.
Comprehensive Emergency Services
Specialty Care
Our emergency departments provide comprehensive emergency care, including in specialties such as burn care, diving and undersea medicine, senior emergency services, heart care, neonatal intensive care (in NICUs), poison control and toxicology help, psychiatric care, stroke care and trauma care.
Care for Older Adults
For many older adults, a trip to the emergency room can be daunting. That is why the geriatric ERs in our hospitals offer specialized care with expert teams to serve the specific needs of seniors. From admission to discharge and beyond, we provide a superior quality of emergency care to help reduce hospital visits and readmissions for patients ages 65 and up.
Paying for Emergency Care
All ER patients receive a physical examination by a doctor prior to any contact with their insurer or primary care doctor. It ensures that you will receive the most appropriate care regardless of your ability to pay or your health plan's decision concerning payments.
You may receive separate bills for different parts of your emergency room visit. If you have questions, please visit Insurance & Billing or call:
- For bills from UC San Diego Emergency Physician's Group, call 866-679-7477
- For bills from UC San Diego Health, call 855-827-3633
Other Same-Day Care Options
If you need same-day care for a non-emergency illness or injury and can't see your primary care provider, save your spot online to get care at an Express Care or Urgent Care clinic.
