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Emergency Department at Kirby Medical Center

24 Emergency Healthcare in Monticello

When the unexpected occurs, expect dedicated care from the medical professionals at Kirby Medical Center. Our Emergency Department is staffed 24 hours a day by board-certified emergency physicians who are all Advanced Life Support (ALS) certified. Our registered nurses are also specially trained in emergency care – ensuring that our patients have access to a comprehensive care team fully prepared to treat even the most serious and life threatening medical conditions.

Because Kirby is part of a regional hospital network, we refer patients when necessary to specialists at Carle, Christie Clinic, and Provena Covenant in Champaign and Urbana; and St. Mary's and Decatur Memorial Hospital in Decatur.

How to Recognize an Emergency

You never want to hesitate calling 911 when an emergency occurs, but determining what exactly is an emergency is not always easy. Medical emergencies come in many forms, and there is no one threshold symptom that separates a standard problem from an emergency. You will need to use your best judgement to determine whether or not the situation warrants a 911 call. Below are some symptoms that warrant an emergency call that you should keep in mind.

Signs of a medical emergency:

  • Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
  • Broken bones
  • Head, spine, and other serious injuries
  • Consistent vomiting
  • Asthma related emergencies
  • Profuse bleeding
  • Tight or painful feeling in chest
  • Consuming a poisonous substance
  • Acute pain in abdominal area
  • Suicidal feelings and other mental distress symptoms
  • Unusual behavior, confusion, and disorientation
  • Severe headaches that won’t go away
  • Sudden blurry vision

These are not the only signs of an emergency, be prepared to call 911 anytime you believe an urgent situation is happening. As calmly as you can, explain the situation to the operators. Speaking too rapidly or in a panic can make it difficult for them to understand you and will waste time.

In nearly every emergency scenario, it is better to wait for an ambulance rather than driving to the hospital yourself. Ambulance paramedics can reach the hospital faster and provide the patient with critical care on the way over. For individuals who at an increased risk of suffering an emergency, Piatt County also offers the invaluable CareLink service.