FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What are NW Indiana ER & Hospital’s hours of operation?

NW Indiana ER & Hospital is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. We never close, not even for holidays!

What kinds of emergencies does NW Indiana ER & Hospital treat?

NW Indiana ER & Hospital is full-service emergency center. We can effectively diagnose and initiate treatment for all kinds of medical emergencies, from insect bites to heart attacks to industrial and car accidents.

How much is a visit normally?

It depends entirely on your condition, and we can provide an estimated cost of care before any sort of treatment if you come in for a complimentary basic medical screening.

What is the documentation required for outpatient services?

The following documentation is required for hospital outpatient services to be rendered:

  1. Documentation that supports medical necessity of the outpatient service (e.g. physician’s office visit note, or progress note, etc.)
  2. A signed and dated physician’s order for the outpatient service.
  3. All patients without a written order will be seen through the emergency room after a free medical screening (emergency room charges will apply).

Do I need to make an appointment before coming in?

No, there is no need to make an appointment for emergency medical care with NW Indiana ER & Hospital. We treat patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Do you provide treatment for babies and children, or just adults?

Yes, NW Indiana ER & Hospital treats patients of all ages for all medical conditions.

How is NW Indiana ER & Hospital different from an urgent care center?

NW Indiana ER & Hospital differs from an urgent care center in that most urgent care centers are designed to handle non-life-threatening medical complaints. An urgent care facility is much like a doctor’s office with extended hours. Urgent care clinics are often staffed by Physician Assistants or Nurse Practitioners who are unable to treat critical trauma patients. If a patient goes to an urgent care clinic with a life-threatening emergency, the patient will be redirected to EMS or 911.

In contrast, NW Indiana ER & Hospital is always open and is staffed by highly-trained emergency room doctors and nurses. Our micro-hospital is also equipped like a large hospital and offers onsite imaging services like X-Rays, MRI, CT scans, and ultrasound. We also offer in-house laboratory services and are equipped and staffed to treat a full range of emergencies, 24/7. NWIH’s imaging and lab equipment is the most modern, state-of-the-art technology.

What is the average wait time?

We have virtually no wait time. In hospital-based ERs, the wait times are longer than independent facilities like NW Indiana ER & Hospital. Our lower patient volume allows our ER physicians and registered nurses to see you promptly and efficiently, so that you can quickly return to the comfort of your home.

Does NW Indiana ER & Hospital have a diagnostic lab onsite?

Yes, we are able to perform the majority of tests any other hospital ER performs. These tests are processed by NWIH, onsite, so we can get the results to you quickly. Typical turnaround time for obtaining lab results at NW Indiana ER & Hospital is around 15 minutes.

Does NW Indiana ER & Hospital offer radiology services?

Yes, we have X-Ray, MRI, CT, and ultrasound radiology services. When your emergency requires imaging services, in addition to being evaluated in real-time by the ER doctor, we also send the images electronically to an offsite radiologist to be read immediately. This means within about 20 minutes we have the ability to print a radiology report, which is much faster than other hospital ERs. We also provide patients with a CD of their scans, which are ready by the time you leave our facility.

What types of payment does NW Indiana ER & Hospital take for self-pay patients?

We accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards including MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover.

What part of my bill am I responsible for during my visit?

You will be required to pay your emergency room copay at the end of your visit.

Have a question not covered here?

NWI Indiana ER and Hospital Stacked Logo-02