Many emergency rooms in the region are experiencing longer-than-usual wait times.
- If you are experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, call 911.
- We are always here to take care of anyone who arrives at our emergency room.
When you visit the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) Emergency Department:
- Our medical teams will prioritize your care based on the urgency of your condition.
- You will be seen immediately if you are experiencing a severe medical condition, such as a traumatic injury, stroke, or heart attack.
- You will experience longer-than-average wait times for less urgent care.
- We will care for you while you wait for a room if you need to be to be admitted to the hospital, since there may not be beds available right away.
As the largest hospital and only academic medical center and Level 1 trauma center in our region, the DHMC Emergency Department and our inpatient clinical units are caring for an unprecedented volume of patients with complex medical needs. We also continue to experience staffing challenges and seasonal illness like RSV and flu that affect both our workforce and our patients. These are all factors that affect our emergency room wait times.
We understand this may feel frustrating and we appreciate your patience. We are actively working to improve capacity and improve our wait times.