Emergency care
Emergency care is the treatment of unexpected, severe medical injuries or infections. It is typically delivered in an emergency room or an ambulance. Our emergency medicine physicians stabilize your condition as quickly as possible to prepare you for the next step of care or discharge.
Emergency medicine services in Derry, New Hampshire
When the unexpected happens, we're prepared to care for your entire family.
At Parkland Medical Center, we provide you and your loved ones with timely, compassionate care. Our emergency services include rapid diagnosis and treatment for potentially life-threatening conditions, such as heart attack, stroke and injury.
Expert advice, available 24/7
Free health-related advice is just a phone call away. Our licensed nurses will help you understand your symptoms, answer health-related questions, and navigate where to seek care.
Free health-related advice is just a phone call away. Our licensed nurses will help you understand your symptoms, answer health-related questions, and navigate where to seek care.
Our emergency services
At our emergency room (ER), we work to see you as quickly as possible, though individuals experiencing more serious conditions will be prioritized first. Care for all is paramount, but saving lives is priority.
Our emergency department
We strive to make each emergency visit as quick and comfortable as possible. To check wait times, text “ER” to 32222 (message and data rates may apply).
Our 24/7 ER offers:
- Access to our Level III Trauma Center
- Dedicated Certified Emergency Nurses (CENs)
- Free Wi-Fi
- Intensive care services (ICU)
- Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center
- Pediatric emergency services
- Sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE)
When you get to our emergency department, you’ll go through these steps:
- Intake registration where you provide your medical records and insurance
- Medical screening, evaluation or stabilization regardless of your insurance or ability to pay
- Symptom and vital signs recording with a triage nurse
Be sure to bring these items with you:
- Care preferences or restrictions
- Copies of results from any recent medical tests
- Emergency contact phone numbers
- List of known medical allergies
- List of medicines you take or the actual medicines
- List of recent medical procedures
Before you go home, you’re encouraged to ask any questions about your care. Keep all your paperwork, discharge instructions and medicines. Contact your primary care provider after you visit our ER, or ask us about finding a primary care provider for you. We’ll send your primary physician a copy of your emergency room visit summary.
Pediatric treatment
The doctors and nurses working in our emergency department are trained to care for and assess the unique needs of children. We also understand the role you play in your child’s health, and prioritize your involvement in developing a treatment plan.
Features of our pediatric-friendly emergency department include:
- Advanced diagnostic and treatment technology designed for children and young adults
- Board-certified emergency medicine physicians and pediatric care-certified nurses
- Pediatric medication management for improved speed, accuracy and administration
If your child is experiencing an emergency, call 911 immediately.
Emergency symptom checker
The following symptom checker can help you decide if you should seek immediate emergency care or make an appointment with your primary care doctor.
Chest pain
A heart attack, or lack of blood supply to the heart, can be fatal if not treated quickly. Call 911 right away if you have chest pain that is crushing or squeezing, and comes with any of these symptoms:
- Lightheadedness
- Fast or irregular pulse
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain that spreads from the chest to the neck, jaw or arms
- Shortness of breath
- Signs of shock
- Sweating
Signs of a heart attack show up differently in women, and may include:
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Discomfort in the neck, shoulder or upper back
- Discomfort in your gut
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual fatigue
Concussion
A concussion or any head injury can be very serious. If you have hit your head and have any of these symptoms, you should go to the ER:
- Amnesia or loss of memory of the event
- Feeling dazed or confused
- Loss of consciousness, even briefly
- Seizure
- Slurred speech
- Vomiting
- Worsening or severe headache
Flu
The flu virus is very common, and does not normally require a visit to the emergency department. This condition can be serious for high-risk populations, including:
- Infants
- People 65 years old and older
- People with certain diseases, such as asthma or COPD
- People with weakened or compromised immune systems
- Pregnant women
The signs that you should go to the ER with the flu include:
- Pneumonia
- Trouble breathing
- Uncontrollable vomiting to the point of dehydration
Still not sure? Consult our cold and flu symptoms chart for more information.
Severe stomach pain
Everyone experiences stomach pain at some point. It can result from a variety of causes and occur in varying degrees of severity. Stomach pain is the most common reason you may need to visit the emergency room. You should seek immediate medical attention if your stomach pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- Dark or black stool
- High fever
- Inability to eat without nausea or vomiting
- Irregular heartbeat
- Pain in your chest, neck or shoulder
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath or dizziness
- Stomach is hard or tender
- Vomit contains blood
Side pain
Most people will experience pain in their side or abdomen at some point in their lives, and it’s usually only temporary. However, severe side pain can be an indication of something serious.
You should seek immediate medical treatment if you have severe pain, especially in your lower right stomach, side or back, or if your pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- Blood in the urine
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Fever
- Pain during urination
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Recent urinary tract infection (UTI)
Severe pain lasting only a few seconds may be nothing to worry about, unless it’s reoccurring. If severe pain persists for more than a few minutes, you should seek medical attention regardless of other symptoms. Side pain can be an indication of a number of different medical conditions. Some common diagnoses may include:
- Appendicitis
- Bladder infection
- Kidney infection
- Kidney stones
- Ovarian cyst
Stroke signs
A stroke is a sudden loss of blood supply to the brain. This is a life-threatening condition, and fast stroke treatment is vital to minimizing neurological damage. If you recognize the symptoms of a stroke in yourself or a loved one, call 911 immediately. Someone experiencing a stroke may have:
- Difficulty speaking
- Loss of balance
- Paralysis or weak muscles
- Severe headache with no known cause
- Sudden dizziness
- Trouble seeing
Trouble breathing
Respiratory distress can be the result of a chronic condition, such as asthma or emphysema. Sometimes, it can indicate heart failure. Signs that you should seek emergency medical treatment for trouble breathing include:
- Breathing stops
- Breathlessness that doesn’t stop after 30 minutes of rest
- Coughing up blood
- Inability to speak comfortably and sustain voice while at rest
- Noisy, high-pitched and rapid wheezing
- Severe shortness of breath that affects your ability to function
- Trouble breathing when you lie flat
You should also go to the emergency room if your breathing trouble is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- Back or arm pain
- Extreme fatigue
- High fever, chills and cough
- Pain or tightness in chest
- Swelling in your feet and ankles
A heart attack, or lack of blood supply to the heart, can be fatal if not treated quickly. Call 911 right away if you have chest pain that is crushing or squeezing, and comes with any of these symptoms:
- Lightheadedness
- Fast or irregular pulse
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain that spreads from the chest to the neck, jaw or arms
- Shortness of breath
- Signs of shock
- Sweating
Signs of a heart attack show up differently in women, and may include:
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Discomfort in the neck, shoulder or upper back
- Discomfort in your gut
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual fatigue
A concussion or any head injury can be very serious. If you have hit your head and have any of these symptoms, you should go to the ER:
- Amnesia or loss of memory of the event
- Feeling dazed or confused
- Loss of consciousness, even briefly
- Seizure
- Slurred speech
- Vomiting
- Worsening or severe headache
The flu virus is very common, and does not normally require a visit to the emergency department. This condition can be serious for high-risk populations, including:
- Infants
- People 65 years old and older
- People with certain diseases, such as asthma or COPD
- People with weakened or compromised immune systems
- Pregnant women
The signs that you should go to the ER with the flu include:
- Pneumonia
- Trouble breathing
- Uncontrollable vomiting to the point of dehydration
Still not sure? Consult our cold and flu symptoms chart for more information.
Everyone experiences stomach pain at some point. It can result from a variety of causes and occur in varying degrees of severity. Stomach pain is the most common reason you may need to visit the emergency room. You should seek immediate medical attention if your stomach pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- Dark or black stool
- High fever
- Inability to eat without nausea or vomiting
- Irregular heartbeat
- Pain in your chest, neck or shoulder
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath or dizziness
- Stomach is hard or tender
- Vomit contains blood
Most people will experience pain in their side or abdomen at some point in their lives, and it’s usually only temporary. However, severe side pain can be an indication of something serious.
You should seek immediate medical treatment if you have severe pain, especially in your lower right stomach, side or back, or if your pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- Blood in the urine
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Fever
- Pain during urination
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Recent urinary tract infection (UTI)
Severe pain lasting only a few seconds may be nothing to worry about, unless it’s reoccurring. If severe pain persists for more than a few minutes, you should seek medical attention regardless of other symptoms. Side pain can be an indication of a number of different medical conditions. Some common diagnoses may include:
- Appendicitis
- Bladder infection
- Kidney infection
- Kidney stones
- Ovarian cyst
A stroke is a sudden loss of blood supply to the brain. This is a life-threatening condition, and fast stroke treatment is vital to minimizing neurological damage. If you recognize the symptoms of a stroke in yourself or a loved one, call 911 immediately. Someone experiencing a stroke may have:
- Difficulty speaking
- Loss of balance
- Paralysis or weak muscles
- Severe headache with no known cause
- Sudden dizziness
- Trouble seeing
Respiratory distress can be the result of a chronic condition, such as asthma or emphysema. Sometimes, it can indicate heart failure. Signs that you should seek emergency medical treatment for trouble breathing include:
- Breathing stops
- Breathlessness that doesn’t stop after 30 minutes of rest
- Coughing up blood
- Inability to speak comfortably and sustain voice while at rest
- Noisy, high-pitched and rapid wheezing
- Severe shortness of breath that affects your ability to function
- Trouble breathing when you lie flat
You should also go to the emergency room if your breathing trouble is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- Back or arm pain
- Extreme fatigue
- High fever, chills and cough
- Pain or tightness in chest
- Swelling in your feet and ankles