Patient Care

Patient Care

hether an individual patient needs trauma care, cardiac care, basic urgent care, or immunizations and precautions for an overseas trip, quality care will be provided by the Emergency Department at the University of Washington Medical Center.

Your visit to the Emergency Department

For general information about the operation of the Emergency Medicine Service, take a virtual visit to our ER.

Fast Track

The Fast Track, located in the Emergency Department, sees patients without critical, life-threatening problems but who are unable to wait to visit their private physician. A team of dedicated Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs), lead by Patricia Abbott, ARNP, provide primary care in the UCS. Dr. Russell McMullen serves as the Fast Track Medical Director.

Travel Medicine Service
(206) 598-4888

The Travel Medicine Service, an important and unique medical service providing care to international travelers, is situated within the Emergency Department of the UWMC. Travel Medicine Service visits by patients totaled 5,012 in 2005.

Social Work Service

A social worker (MSW), is on duty at the EMS, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to midnight, Saturday from 10am to midnight, and Sunday from noon until 8pm. The MSW performs psychiatric evaluations for Emergency Medicine Service patients, and also provides support as well, to medical patients and their families.

Maggie Yamanaka leads a staff of MSWs who are responsible for interviewing and assessing patients who suffer from acute psychosocial and socio-economic problems that interfere with the ability to manage their environment. They also provide appropriate social service referrals.