National statistics gathered over the past 30 years prove that immediate access to quality emergency and trauma care makes a lifesaving difference for patients. Medical professionals agree that when patients receive early assessment and treatment within the first 60 minutes after a serious injury – called the "Golden Hour" – the overall chances for survival and recovery are far greater. The same is true for non-life threatening injuries.
Where to Go for Emergency care at Sentara
Trauma CareAn important part of our emergency care is Trauma care. It is our hope that members of our community never need this highest level of emergency care, but Sentara has one of the leading programs in Virginia and the Hampton Roads region if you need us. Trauma care is different from the treatment of other medical conditions or diseases because trauma is not one single, specific condition. Trauma is the result of serious or critical injuries caused by such incidents as automobile crashes, falls, industrial mishaps or acts of violence. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, in partnership with the Department of Surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School, offers the region's only Level I Trauma Center. Sentara also offers the Hampton Roads region's first Nightingale Air Ambulance Service.
Sentara Hospitals Sentara hospitals are equipped with a high standard of trauma care. Sentara Virginia Beach General offers Level III Trauma care and Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is a Level I Trauma facility – taking on the highest level of trauma care available. All of our hospitals are equipped to see a variety of trauma complications, including geriatric, pediatric, surgical and orthopedic traumas. Emergency Medicine Board Certified or Board Eligible physicians staff all Sentara emergency departments. On-call surgeons are available for plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurology, neurosurgery and opthalmology.
Freestanding Outpatient Emergency Services
Emergency Services at our freestanding outpatient locations around Hampton Roads are open 24 hours a day, with board-certified emergency physicians offering care in a quiet, calm environment to walk-in patients, as well as those who arrive by ambulance. And if your needs require a more intense level of care, our skilled staff will provide stabilizing treatment and transfer you to the nearest appropriate hospital.