Emergency Medicine Services
When you or a loved one need emergency care, there is no better place than UCI Health. Our highly trained physicians and nurses treat conditions ranging from broken bones to life-threatening injuries.
UCI Medical Center in Orange
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As the only Level 1 trauma center in Orange County, we deliver the most comprehensive emergency and specialist care in the region, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our emergency department is also a designated receiving center for stroke and cardiac patients. We also are home to the region's leading burn center. Because of our expertise, other emergency departments in the region refer their complex cases to us.
We are located on Medical Center Drive in the heart of our Orange medical center campus. View our campus map
UCI Health — Fountain Valley
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- Orange County Emergency Medical Services designated cardiovascular (STEMI) and stroke neurosurgical receiving center
- Primary and thrombectomy-capable stroke center accreditation by The Joint Commission
- California Children’s Services-certified pediatric and neonatal intensive care units to treat ill or injured children and newborns
UCI Health — Los Alamitos
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- DNV-GL designated Comprehensive Stroke Center
- Bi-Plane cath lab capabilities for heart and stroke interventions
- 24/7 stroke response team
- A secondary emergency department opened during peak hours for your convenience
UCI Health — Lakewood
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- Designated STEMI receiving center for critical heart patients
- Easy access and convenient parking
UCI Health — Placentia Linda
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- 24-hour emergency care
- High-tech surgical pavilion and gastrointestinal center
- Dedicated center for wound care with hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- Complete diagnostic imaging services
Walk-in care
With locations throughout Orange County, our walk-in care services allow patients to be seen without an appointment for urgent medical needs that are not life threatening.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately.
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Why Choose Us
UCI Health emergency physicians and nurses are among the best trained in the nation to deliver expert and compassionate care to critically ill patients, as well as people with major and minor injuries or ailments.
With board-certified emergency physicians in our triage area, we assess your needs within minutes.
As Orange County's only university medical center, we have experts who treat acute illnesses and conditions such as poisonings, drug overdoses and infectious diseases. Trauma-trained specialists in orthopedics, burns, neurological and cardiovascular conditions, and reconstructive plastic surgery are also on standby 24/7.
In addition, blood work, X-rays and advanced imaging — including CT scans and bedside ultrasound — are available at all times.
For emergency department patients in need of brief and intensive monitoring and treatment, we also have a 20-bed observation center, where a team of experienced nurse practitioners provides continuous care.
Learn why our patients get the highest level of emergency care in Orange County and the region
Emergency vs. Urgent Care
What kind of care do I need?
Emergency physicians provide care for serious medical problems, including life-threatening injuries. You may need emergency care if you are experiencing:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Head injury
- Heart palpitations
- Heavy bleeding, especially vaginal bleeding while pregnant
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- Losing consciousness
- Severe abdominal pain
- Severe burns
- Sudden onset weakness
- Sudden onset slurred speech
- Vision loss
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Urgent care and walk-in care are intended to provide treatment for non-life threatening medical problems that can't wait until the next day. These medical conditions may include fever, minor traumas (such as bruises, sprains and minor fractures), diarrhea, vomiting or pain with urination. Patients are treated by a physician or nurse practitioner and no appointment is required.
By providing appropriate treatment for patients who need immediate care, urgent and walk-in care services allow emergency departments to concentrate on the most serious cases.
Learn more about UCI Health walk-in care services in Orange and Irvine. We also offer care after-hours, on weekends and most holidays at our urgent care clinic in Tustin.
If you or a loved one need immediate emergency care, dial 911.
What to Bring
If you need emergency care, there are key things to bring with you, if you are able:
- Your personal information, including full name, address, telephone number and birth date
- Your social security number
- The name of your health insurance plan and your insurance card
- A list of medications you are taking
- A list of any allergies and medical conditions you may have
- A list of emergency contacts
You will also want to alert family members that you are coming to the emergency department at UC Irvine Medical Center.
View patient and visitor parking information
To reach the medical center operator, call 714-456-7890. However, if you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, dial 9-1-1 immediately.
Our Team
Our emergency medicine specialists are experienced in all aspects of emergency care.
To provide swift and accurate diagnosis and treatment, we actively incorporate the most advanced technologies, including bedside ultrasound, constant blood pressure and oxygen monitoring and videolaryngoscopy.
Our physicians also are national and international leaders in:
- Airway management
- Bedside ultrasound
- Disaster response and planning
- Emergency cardiac diagnosis and care
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- Geriatric emergency medicine
- Infectious diseases
- Overdoses and poisonings, including snake bites
- Patient safety
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Our clinicians
- Isabel M. Algaze Gonzalez, MD
- Bharath Chakravarthy, MD
- Carrie E. Chandwani, MD
- John C. Fox, MD
- Ryan P. Gibney , MD
- Robert J. Katzer, MD
- Jerry B. Kim, MD
- Mark I. Langdorf, MD
- Shahram Lotfipour, MD
- Danielle M. Matonis, MD
- Christopher E. McCoy, MD
- Megan B. Osborn, MD
- Ronald J. Rivera, MD
- Scott E. Rudkin, MD
- Jonathan D. Smart, MD
- Lindsey C. Spiegelman, MD
- Jeffrey R. Suchard, MD
- Shannon L. Toohey, MD
- Warren F. Wiechmann, MD
- Alisa V. Wray, MD
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Upcoming Events
View details for session info
Stop the Bleed
In these UCI Health classes, medical personnel and lay persons can learn how to safely and properly apply a tourniquet when necessary for bleeding control.
Wednesday, May. 28, 2025
9-9 a.m. +3 more dates
Stroke Prevention
In this online class, you’ll learn what a stroke is, what the risk factors are for stroke and how you can reduce your risk. We want to help you prevent stroke!
Tuesday, May. 27, 2025
9-9 a.m. +3 more dates
Prevención del Accidente Cerebrovascular
Las clases de prevención del accidente cerebrovascular ofrecidas por UCI Health ofrecen educación a la comunidad sobre los signos y síntomas del accidente cerebrovascular, así como prevenir y tratar un accidente cerebrovascular.
