Emergency Room
Accredited Chest Pain Center and Primary Stroke Center
Call 9-1-1 if you or a loved one is experiencing a medical emergency.
Emergency Care, 24/7
At Rutherford Regional Health System our emergency room (ER) team is staffed 24/7 with emergency physicians, nurses and staff who are trained in providing emergency care. Our team combines advanced training with compassionate service to be ready for you or your family when you need it the most.
Next Steps
Understanding Heart Attack Symptoms
Know When to go to the ER
Understanding Stroke Symptoms
What to Expect in our Emergency Room
As a patient, you will be cared for by staff trained to respond to medical emergencies. We understand a visit to the ER can be a very stressful time; therefore, you should expect us to communicate with you and guide you through your situation. You should always ask questions if you do not understand.
Quality Emergency Care, Close to Home
American College of Cardiology Chest Pain Center Accreditation
Rutherford Regional has received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the American College of Cardiology. We are dedicated to providing our patients with the best heart care treatment available. As an accredited facility, we use the newest methods and best practices in heart care to ensure that our patients receive:
- Right care at the right time to minimize or eliminate heart damage due to a heart attack
- Timely and accurate diagnoses to reduce the disruption to your life and get you back home as soon as possible
- Help and communication to better understand how to respond to your heart emergencies
- Improved quality of life after a heart episode
American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Quality Achievement Awards
Rutherford Regional Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Rural Recognition Gold Award in recognition of its ongoing efforts to eliminate rural healthcare outcome disparities and optimize stroke care.
The hospital received the Association’s Gold Award in both 2025 & 2026. People who live in rural areas live an average of three years fewer than their urban counterparts. They have a 40 percent higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face a 30 percent increased risk for stroke mortality — a gap that has grown over the past two decades.
Rutherford Regional is committed to changing that. As a hospital in a rural community, we have made it our goal to make sure that we provide a high standard of care for stroke patients, regardless of rural challenges and barriers to access care.
The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association's Heart-Check mark for Primary Stroke Center Certification
Rutherford Regional Health System earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association's Heart-Check mark for Primary Stroke Center Certification in 2025 & 2026, reaffirming the organization's commitment to providing high-quality, evidence-based stroke care for patients across Rutherford County and the surrounding region.
When strokes occur, we’re here when you need us most, providing 24/7 emergency care close to home, including high levels of stroke care as a Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center.
Remember: Call 9-1-1
If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. EMS staff are trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. It is best to call EMS for rapid transport to the emergency room.