Emergency Care in Washington, DC

If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.

The George Washington University Hospital
900 23rd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202-715-4000

The walk-in entrance is located just south of Washington Circle on 23rd Street on the west side of the street.

Directions

GW Hospital has one of the premier emergency departments in the country, with a long history of providing leading edge medicine in a quality, caring and efficient environment. Only minutes away from Washington, D.C.'s downtown tourist sites and just six blocks from the White House, the Emergency Department (ED) at GW Hospital plays an essential role in caring for the urgent health needs of the District of Columbia. The department cares for nearly 75,000 patients each year.

COVID-19 Testing

*PLEASE NOTE: The Emergency Department at GW Hospital is working to provide critical, emergent care to our community. If you are seeking a COVID-19 test and are not experiencing serious illness, please contact a local community testing site. This will enable us to better serve patients who are experiencing medical emergencies.

What to Expect When You Arrive at the ER

Sudden illness or injury can occur without warning, and while no one typically plans a trip to the ER, everyone should know what to expect after they arrive.

Learn More About Our Care Process

Stroke Care

If a stroke is suspected, time is of the essence. Patients who suffer ischemic or acute strokes can benefit from thrombolytic (clot dissolving) therapy if the medication is administered within three hours of the event. Together with area ambulance services, the emergency, radiology and neurology departments have organized a rapid response 24 hour brain attack team to evaluate and treat acute stroke patients brought to the GW Hospital's Emergency Department.

GW Hospital is designated a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and American Heart Association.

Learn more about stroke care at GW Hospital →

Heart Attack Care

Emergency intervention for heart attacks is coordinated with cardiologists, radiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. Our physicians are known for their success in treating individuals experiencing a heart attack. Our cardiac catheterization suite is available 24 hours a day to administer treatments to clear blocked arteries and restore blood and oxygen flow to damaged heart tissue.

Learn more about heart attack care at GW Hospital →

Level I Trauma Center

The Center for Trauma and Critical Care provides premier care to severely injured and critically ill patients. It evaluates and treats more than 2,000 patients per year.

Learn More about our Trauma Center

Primary Receiving Center for Nation's Capital

The ED serves as a local medical resource to the Foggy Bottom community, while also serving the healthcare needs of visitors to the nation's capital. The hospital is the primary receiving center for emergencies that may occur in the nation's monuments and government complexes in downtown Washington, D.C. In 1981, GW's Emergency Department played a major role in saving the life of then President Ronald Reagan, after an assassination attempt left him severely wounded.

Emergency Department Billing

You will receive a bill from the hospital for services rendered. You can expect to receive a separate bill from the physician who treated you.

ConnectER Program

The ConnectER Program is designed to provide an alternative option for patients who are asked to follow-up with a doctor after an emergency room visit.

Learn More about ConnectER