Care & Services
Emergency and Critical Care Services
Read COVID‑19 (Coronavirus) resources in multiple languages.
Emergency Room vs Urgent Care, what’s the difference?
Don’t let the fear of contracting COVID-19 (Coronavirus) keep you from seeking treatment. We urge you and your family members to pay attention to the warning signs and symptoms of severe illness. Heart attack, stroke, severe infections, and other critical illnesses can only worsen or have life-threatening consequences if you or a loved one tries to wait it out at home. We have all the equipment, expertise, and protocols in place, and follow all state and federal guidelines for patient and staff safety.
Circle Health offers 24/7 immediate care for life-threatening and serious illness through its two emergency departments available at both the Lowell General Hospital main campus and Saints campus. The main campus emergency department is accredited as a Level III Trauma Center, with on-site primary angioplasty available 24/7 for immediate cardiac interventions. In addition, the emergency department has a helipad to facilitate emergent transfers if needed.
Critical Care Support
Patients who are critically ill or injured and those who have undergone advanced medical procedures, such as treatments for cardiovascular or neurological disease require and intense level of monitoring and specialized care.
Our critical care team works seamlessly with the Emergency and Cardiac Services departments to deliver time-sensitive assessments, diagnoses and treatment needed to help those who are in critical condition. They work closely with cardiologists, anesthesiologists, surgeons and other specialists in the hospital to help bring each patient the specific care needed for their condition.
Through a strong critical care partnership with Tufts Medical Center, ICU patients receive the same high level of care as they would receive if transferred to Boston. This close collaboration allows Tufts Medical Center physicians experienced in complex case management to staff the 2 ICU units located at the Lowell General Hospital main campus. This benefits critically ill patients as they are able to stay close to home, and benefit from the highly-trained specialists on staff at Lowell General - from nephrologists, infectious disease specialists, cardiologists, neurologists, specialized state state-of-the-art care is available for the patient.
Learn more about our Critical Care services
Non-Life Threatening Conditions
For non-life threatening conditions, Circle Health offers four convenient Urgent Care locations.
When to go to an Urgent Care Center
Is your life in danger? If not, you don't have to go to the Emergency Room. For a surprising number of illnesses and injuries, it's faster and less expensive to go to an urgent care center. You can get immediate attention for allergies, rash or hives, minor eye injuries, dehydration, and more.
When to go to the Emergency Room
If you have medical event or accident that could cause serious harm or death, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Room as quickly as possible. Typical life-threatening situations include chest pain, severe bleeding, difficulty speaking or breathing or some other major trauma.
Learn more about Circle Health's emergency and critical care services at www.lowellgeneral.org/emergency