When you have a medical emergency, whether it's for bumps and bruises or something more serious, you need immediate care. That's why Heart Hospital of Austin is committed to seeing you quickly; in most cases there is little or no wait. Our 24/7 full-service emergency room and Heart Emergency Center is staffed by experienced physicians and highly skilled staff. So whether it's an on-the-job injury or the warning signs of a heart attack, we're ready when you need us.

We're an Accredited Chest Pain Center. Heart Hospital of Austin is proud that our chest pain center has been accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. This mark of distinction signifies our commitment to exceeding quality-of-care measures in acute cardiac medicine. The accreditation also recognizes the expertise of our physicians, nurses and other dedicated professionals and the excellence of our treatment protocols.

Our Emergency Room offers:

• Expertise in treating emergencies including cardiac, pulmonary and surgical
• A central location: 38th and Lamar, next to Central Market
• Bedside registration
• Physicians and Registered Nurses trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Participation in the City of Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Service (EMS) ambulance rotation
• Advanced equipment and treatment protocols
• CV Stat, an emergency referral and transport program providing care to outlying communities
• Participation in major medical coverage groups including HMOs and PPOs. Call us at 512.407.7000 to see if we participate in your plan.

It's your choice.

If you are having a heart attack, tell EMS to take you to Heart Hospital of Austin. The physician specialists on our medical staff are experienced in quickly and appropriately diagnosing and treating heart emergencies, which generally result in better outcomes for our patients. And, because of the large number of heart surgeries and procedures performed by our physicians, the greater the likelihood that our patients will experience the best outcomes possible.

Know the warning signs of a heart attack. Act immediately - call 911.

Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

• Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.  
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.   
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.  
• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. They are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.