Emergency Care

When you need prompt emergency care, the Samaritan Medical Center Emergency Department (ED) is here for you - seven days a week, 24-hours a day. Samaritan Medical Center's Emergency Department is one the busiest areas at the hospital - with over 50,000 patient visits a year. This service is critical to the northern New York and Fort Drum community. We cover all medical services from trauma to the late-night cold and flu spells.

The Emergency Department staff is specialty trained with dedicated Emergency Medicine doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants and Registered Nurses with extensive clinical experience and special emergency medical certifications. Along with specialized staff, the Samaritan Emergency Department is well-equipped with a state-of-the-art technology in a new space that opened in 2010. The ED has 42 private rooms, a dedicated mental health services area, on-site radiology services, such as CT, ultrasound and MRI, and more. We also offer TV service in our patient rooms, as well as free WiFi for all of our visitors.

Proper care and prompt attention are very important to the SMC ED. We have implemented a new system that allows our staff to provide the most expedited and efficient care for all emergency visits. Once you visit the SMC ED the staff will evaluate you and determine the level of care you need. This process will greatly decrease visit time for visitors that do not need to be admitted to the hospital.

Important Phone Numbers:

911 – Use for All Emergency Situations

Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 or TTY: 315-464-5424

Samaritan's Urgent Mental Health Hotline: 315-785-4516 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Samaritan Medical Center Emergency Department: 315-785-4100

Victims' Assistance Center (Domestic Violence): 315-782-1823

Mobile Crisis Services: 315-782-2327 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Child Protective Services: 315-785-5079

Our Location:

Samaritan Medical Center
Emergency Department
830 Washington St.
Watertown, NY  13601
Get Directions to the Hospital

When You Should Go To the Emergency Department

Some of the following warning signs may indicate a medical emergency and signal when you should proceed to the nearest Emergency Department.

• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
• Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
• Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness
• Changes in vision
• Confusion or changes in mental status
• Any sudden or severe pain
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Suicidal feelings
• Difficulty speaking
• Shortness of breath
• Unusual abdominal pain

Also please remember that symptoms that are serious for a child may not be as serious for an adult. Children may also be unable to communicate their condition, which means an adult will have to figure out the behavior. Always get immediate medical attention if you think your child is having a medical emergency.

When You Should Call 911

Many times, it's very clear that an ambulance needs to be called, such as in the case of an auto accident or heart attack. But other times, when symptoms are unclear, those in need may be reluctant to dial 911. We often hear, "We didn't think it was necessary to call an ambulance" or "We didn't want to bother them." When in doubt, play it safe and call the emergency experts.
Consider these tips for calling 911:

• Call any time a victim's condition is life threatening or could worsen and become life threatening
• Call any time moving a victim could cause further injury
• Call anytime when traveling to a hospital will take too long without the support of an on-board paramedic and an emergency response vehicle.

Please remember that for minor illnesses, injuries, medical releases, and work release orders – these visits may not require the high level of care available in the Emergency Department, Samaritan's Urgent Care services offer convenient walk-in care for many of these issues and concerns.