The MaineHealth Franklin Hospital Emergency Department provides 24-hour care for urgent and life-threatening conditions such as strokes, heart attacks and broken bones. Patients with serious conditions are stabilized here and may be admitted to the hospital. In the most critical cases, patients are transported by NorthStar ambulance, our specialty care transport team, or by LifeFlight helicopter to a major trauma or specialty care center.
The department is a secure unit at MaineHealth Franklin Hospital that provides for safer care and increased security. Patients seeking emergency care should enter through the designated entrance where a team member will greet them and explain the next steps. We treat patients according to the urgency of their condition, so those with more serious conditions are treated first. The sickest patients are placed in a room quickly, with registration taking place at the bedside.
People with non-urgent conditions should call their primary care physician before going to the emergency department. Learn more about where to go for same-day care.
It is essential to know how to recognize the signs of a medical emergency—because correctly interpreting and acting on these signs could potentially save the life of a loved one—or your own life—one day. Many people experience the symptoms of an emergency, such as a stroke or a heart attack, but for various reasons (such as fear), delay seeking care right away. For many medical emergencies, time is of the essence, and delays in treatment can often lead to more serious consequences. The following signs and symptoms and are not intended to represent every kind of medical emergency or substitute for medical advice from your physician, but rather to provide examples of common issues:
- Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
- Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure lasting two minutes or more
- Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness
- Changes in vision
- Difficulty speaking
- Confusion or changes in mental status, unusual behavior, difficulty waking
- Any sudden or severe pain
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
- Unusual abdominal pain
-American College Emergency Physicians
If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions about a person experiencing a medical emergency, or if you are unsure, it's best to call an ambulance, even if you think you can get to the hospital faster by driving yourself.
- Does the person's condition appear life-threatening?
- Could the person's condition worsen and become life-threatening on the way to the hospital?
- Could moving the person cause further injury?
- Does the person need the skills or equipment employed by paramedics or emergency medical technicians?
- Would distance or traffic conditions cause a delay in getting the person to the hospital?
- If you drive to the hospital, know the location and the fastest route to the nearest emergency department.
-American College Emergency Physicians
Where to go for same-day care
If you are in need of same-day care, MaineHealth is here for you. Learn more about what types of care are available. If you are having a medical emergency, please call 911.
MaineHealth Telestroke Network
We are part of the MaineHealth Telestroke Network offering expert stroke coverage 24/7, improving patient outcomes and decreasing stroke-related disabilities.
Everyone needs protection against tetanus. It's important to stay up to date on your vaccines.
What kind of care would you want if you became too ill to communicate? Learn more about advance care planning.
