Allina Telehealth Network

Stroke patients at River Falls Area Hospital have 24-hour access to stroke care experts at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Emergency care

Life-saving emergency care – close to home

In emergency medical situations, whether an illness or injury, every moment is critical. And when you need access to exceptional medical care — fast — you can be confident that we're here for you.

River Falls Area Hospital has been designated a Level IV trauma center by the state of Wisconsin. This designation verifies that River Falls Area Hospital has the expertise and resources to provide care to trauma patients, including stabilization and advanced trauma life support.

Patients can be assured they will receive safe, high-quality care from our board-certified physicians and nursing team. Evaluation and treatment is provided in conjunction with advanced lifesaving equipment and technology. If a higher level of care is needed, River Fall's emergency team will evaluate, treat and stabilize in preparation for rapid transfer to the most appropriate facility by ground or air transport.

The River Falls Area Hospital Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a non-profit hospital we treat all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

Upon arrival, a triage nurse will evaluate patients and determine the level of care required. We pride ourselves on providing efficient care of a wide range of conditions such as earaches, lacerations, infections and fractures, as well as life-threatening conditions such as a heart attack, stroke or cardiac arrest.

Level IV trauma center

As a Level IV trauma center, designated by the state of Wisconsin, the Emergency Department provides stabilization and advanced trauma life support.

What does "Level IV trauma center" mean?

• A physician and nurses who are specially trained in caring for trauma patients are present in the Emergency Department 24/7.
• The state of Wisconsin conducts an on-site inspection every three years to evaluate processes to ensure optimal trauma care is provided at River Falls Area Hospital. Trauma data is collected and reviewed to help identify injury prevention and community and staff educational opportunities.
• A systematic improvement process addresses system issues and continually improves the patient care experience.

When trauma patients are brought to the Emergency Department, they are met by a highly trained team of experts including a physician, trauma nurses, certified nurse anesthetist, respiratory therapist, laboratory technician, radiology technician and pharmacist.

If a trauma patient's injuries require access to specialists, seamless transfer to Regions Hospital, the closest Level I adult and pediatric trauma center, is quickly coordinated.

Community involvement

River Falls Area Hospital is active in engaging our community through injury prevention programs such as car seat clinics, bike rodeos, Risk Watch and the Community Falls Prevention Program.

While the Emergency Department responds to life-threatening injuries and illnesses, it also prepares to serve as the frontline for our community's defense in instances of large-scale disasters and epidemics.

In collaboration with the city, county and state, planning, mitigation, education and multidisciplinary exercises are performed yearly to maintain a high-level of emergency preparedness.