Willmar Emergency Services

The Emergency Department at CentraCare - Rice Memorial Hospital is staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians and specially trained nurses who are certified in trauma care and advanced life support.

Why Choose Rice Memorial Hospital?

Designated a Level III Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons board-certified emergency medicine physicians, trauma surgeons and specially trained nurses and staff

• FAA-approved helipad serviced by Life Link III air ambulance
• Private exam rooms designed to support life-saving care and equipped with the latest technology to address patients experiencing heart attacks, strokes, behavioral health crises, and other emergent health issues.

Parking

The ER entrance is accessible via Becker Avenue SW. Parking is available near the ER entrance and in a parking lot adjacent to the hospital on the corner of 2nd Street and Becker Avenue.

What to Expect

Upon arrival, a member of our staff will greet you and evaluate your condition. This is known as "triage," and it helps us determine who is in the most urgent need of care. It is important to make sure that the most seriously ill and injured patients be seen first.

Your wait will depend on how ill you are compared to others in the department at that time. During triage, a brief examination, including taking your blood pressure and temperature, takes place. You will be asked to register, which is necessary to record your visit. Then you’ll be asked for your address, health insurance, place of employment and to sign a consent form for your care.

If other patients’ conditions are more serious than yours, you might have a slight wait. Waiting time also may be related to processing time for procedures, such as blood tests and X-rays.

Trauma Services

A committee of the American College of Surgeons designates entire hospitals – not just emergency rooms – as trauma centers. Hospitals must meet rigorous standards in order to be certified.
To be certified as Level III, Rice Memorial Hospital had to meet several criteria, including:

• Having an emergency room that is staffed 24/7
• Having trauma surgeons available within 30 minutes of patient arrival
• Providing back-up care for other rural and community hospitals
• Having transfer agreements in place for patients requiring more comprehensive care at a Level I or Level II Trauma Center

Call 320-235-4543.