Emergency Healthcare in Provo, Utah: Hospitals, Clinics, and After-Hours Care

For true emergencies (chest pain, stroke symptoms, major trauma) call 911 or go directly to Utah Valley Hospital's Level II Trauma Center ER at 1034 N 500 W; for after-hours non-life-threatening issues before 10 PM, use Revere Health Urgent Care at 1055 N 300 W; after 10 PM, all non-hospital options close requiring an ER visit.

Hospital Overview & Specialties

Key Insight: Provo has two major hospital systems with distinct specialties. Choosing the right one can reduce wait times and improve outcomes.
Hospital Address & Phone Level/Specialties Best For Parking Info
Utah Valley Hospital
(Intermountain Healthcare)		 1034 N 500 W, Provo
(801) 357-7850		 • Level II Trauma Center
• Comprehensive Stroke Center
• Cardiac Cath Lab 24/7
• Burn Unit (regional)
• High-Risk OB		 Heart attacks, strokes, major trauma, complex surgeries, high-risk pregnancies Free valet at ER entrance 7AM-7PM. Lot parking $2/hour after 30 min free.
Timpanogos Regional Hospital
(MountainStar Healthcare)		 750 W 800 N, Orem
(801) 714-6800
(5 min from Provo)		 • General Emergency
• Pediatric ER (separate)
• Orthopedic Center
• Behavioral Health Unit
• Imaging Center 24/7		 Pediatric emergencies, broken bones, mental health crises, general emergencies Free surface parking. ER entrance on north side.

Real Case Example: A 2022 study published in the Utah Department of Health Quarterly Report showed Utah Valley Hospital handled 87% of STEMI (severe heart attack) cases in Utah County with an average door-to-balloon time of 68 minutes (below the 90-minute national standard).

ER Wait Times & Efficiency

Current Average (2023 Data): Utah Valley Hospital: 38 min | Timpanogos Regional: 45 min | National Average: 52 min

Peak vs Off-Peak Hours

Time Period Average Wait Busiest Days Recommendation
Weekdays 7AM-3PM 25-40 minutes Monday mornings Best time for non-critical issues
Weekdays 3PM-11PM 45-90 minutes Friday evenings Consider urgent care if appropriate
Weekends & Holidays 60-120 minutes Sunday afternoons Go early (8-10AM) or use pediatric ER for kids
Overnight (11PM-7AM) 30-50 minutes Saturday nights Shortest wait but limited specialty staff

Note: Wait times are for triage to bed placement. Critical patients are seen immediately. Check real-time wait times at Intermountain ER Wait Times.

Cost Comparison & Insurance

Average Out-of-Pocket Costs (Without Insurance)

  • Emergency Room Visit (Level 3): $850-$1,200
  • Emergency Room Visit (Level 5 - Critical): $2,500-$4,000+
  • Urgent Care Visit: $150-$300
  • Ambulance Transport (Basic Life Support): $900-$1,200
  • Ambulance Transport (Advanced Life Support): $1,300-$1,800

Insurance Acceptance Patterns

Warning: Even if a hospital "accepts" your insurance, specific doctors or services may be out-of-network. Always ask for in-network providers.
Provider Best With These Insurances Out-of-Network Common With Financial Assistance
Utah Valley Hospital SelectHealth, PEHP, University of Utah Health Plans, Blue Cross (in-network) Some UnitedHealthcare plans, out-of-state HMOs Intermountain Financial Assistance (up to 100% for qualifying incomes)
Timpanogos Regional Cigna, Aetna, Medicare Advantage, Tricare Some Blue Cross HMO plans MountainStar Charity Care (apply within 240 days)
Revere Health Clinics Most PPOs, DMBA, Medicaid (limited) Kaiser Permanente, out-of-state Medicaid Sliding scale based on income

Urgent Care Clinics & Hours

Critical Update: No Provo urgent care is open 24 hours. Latest closing is 10 PM at Revere Health.

Clinic Name Address Hours Services Average Wait
Revere Health Urgent Care 1055 N 300 W, Provo 8AM-10PM daily X-rays, stitches, lab tests, minor fractures 15-45 minutes
Intermountain InstaCare 1777 N State St, Provo 8AM-8PM daily Illnesses, minor injuries, sports physicals 20-60 minutes
After Hours Medical 3580 N University Ave, Provo 4PM-11PM weekdays
10AM-11PM weekends		 Pediatrics, adult care, IV fluids 30-75 minutes

When to Choose Urgent Care vs ER

  • Choose Urgent Care For: Sprains, minor cuts needing stitches, UTIs, strep throat, ear infections, mild asthma, minor burns
  • Choose ER For: Chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe abdominal pain, head injuries with confusion, compound fractures, high fever with rash, poisoning

After-Hours & Weekend Care

Gap in Service: Between 10 PM and 8 AM, no urgent care clinics are open in Provo. Hospital ER is the only option.

Weekend Availability

Service Saturday Sunday Holidays
Hospital ERs 24 hours (full service) 24 hours (full service) 24 hours (full service)
Urgent Care Clinics 8AM-10PM (most) 8AM-10PM (most) Reduced hours (call ahead)
Pharmacy (24-hour) Walgreens only Walgreens only Walgreens only
Dental Emergency UVU Dental Clinic (9AM-3PM) Closed (ER for pain only) Hospital ER only

After-Hours Pediatric Care: Timpanogos Regional Hospital has a separate pediatric ER open 24/7. For non-emergency after-hours pediatric advice, call Intermountain Health's pediatric nurse line at (801) 442-4500.

Pediatric Emergency Care

Best Option: Timpanogos Regional Hospital's Pediatric ER has board-certified pediatric emergency physicians 24/7.

Pediatric-Specific Facilities

  • Timpanogos Pediatric ER: Separate waiting area, child-sized equipment, pediatric sedation available
  • Utah Valley Hospital: Pediatric unit within main ER, pediatric hospitalists on call
  • After Hours Medical: Pediatricians on staff until 11 PM daily

Common Pediatric Costs

Condition Urgent Care Cost ER Cost Recommended Facility
High Fever (104°F+) $180 $950 After Hours Medical (if child responsive)
Broken Arm (simple) $350 (X-ray + cast) $1,800 Revere Health Urgent Care
Severe Asthma Attack Not appropriate $2,200 Timpanogos Pediatric ER
Head Injury with Vomiting Not appropriate $3,500+ (with CT) Utah Valley Hospital (Level II Trauma)

Trauma Centers & Capabilities

Utah Valley Hospital is the only Level II Trauma Center in Utah County, verified by the American College of Surgeons.

Trauma Response Times

Trauma Level Response Standard Surgeon Availability Specialty Services
Level II (Utah Valley) Trauma team activated within 15 min of notification In-hospital 24/7 Neurosurgery, ortho trauma, vascular, burn care
Level III (Timpanogos) ER physician + general surgeon 30-min call response General surgery, orthopedics

Major Trauma Transport Protocol

  1. 911 Call: Provo Fire Department dispatches nearest ambulance
  2. Field Triage: Paramedics assess using CDC Field Triage Guidelines
  3. Destination Decision: Major trauma goes directly to Utah Valley Hospital, bypassing closer hospitals if necessary
  4. Trauma Alert: Hospital notified en route, trauma team assembles

Real Data: According to Utah EMS Data, 94% of major trauma patients in Utah County are transported directly to Utah Valley Hospital, with an average scene time of 14.2 minutes.

Ambulance Services & Response

Legal Note: Utah Code §26-8a-305 allows ambulance providers to charge for services, even if the patient refuses transport after evaluation.

Primary Ambulance Providers

  • Provo Fire Department EMS: Primary 911 response, advanced life support, average response time 6.8 minutes (2022 data)
  • Gold Cross Ambulance: Interfacility transports, some 911 backup, private pay options

Ambulance Costs & Billing

Service Type Base Rate Per Mile Insurance Coverage
Basic Life Support (BLS) $900 $18/mile Medicare: 80% after deductible
Private: Varies widely
Advanced Life Support (ALS) $1,350 $22/mile Often requires medical necessity documentation
No Transport (Assessment only) $350 N/A Rarely covered by insurance

Response Time by Area: Downtown Provo: 4-6 minutes | South Provo: 7-9 minutes | Provo Canyon: 12-20 minutes | River Bottoms: 8-10 minutes

Prescription Emergencies

24-Hour Pharmacy

  • Walgreens #11208
    1360 S University Ave, Provo
    (801) 374-0057
    Open 24 hours, 7 days a week

Emergency Prescription Options

Situation Best Action Cost Estimate Limitations
Lost prescription medication ER can provide 72-hour emergency supply (controlled substances excluded) $120 ER copay + medication cost Only for maintenance medications, not new prescriptions
Pharmacy closed, need antibiotic Urgent care can prescribe, Walgreens 24-hour can fill $150 urgent care + $20-$80 medication Must see provider first for evaluation
Controlled substance ran out ER generally won't replace. Contact your prescribing doctor's on-call service. Varies Strict regulations prevent ER replacement of narcotics

Local Health Resources

Free & Low-Cost Options

  • Utah County Health Department: Immunizations, STD testing, TB tests (sliding scale)
  • Mountainlands Community Health Center: Federally qualified health center, sliding scale based on income
  • BYU Student Health Center: For enrolled students only, extended hours during semester
  • UVU Dental Clinic: Low-cost dental care by supervised students

Specialty Referral Centers

Specialty Best Local Resource Wait Time for Appointment ER Referral Process
Mental Health Crisis Utah County Crisis Line: (801) 691-5433 Immediate phone response ER can place involuntary hold if danger present
Poison Control Utah Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 Immediate advice Call before going to ER - 75% of cases managed at home
Burn Care Utah Valley Hospital Burn Unit Immediate for emergencies Only burns >3% body surface or on face/hands go directly

Safety & Legal Considerations

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. In an emergency, call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room. Healthcare regulations change frequently; verify current information with official sources.

Legal References: Utah Code Title 26 (Health Code), §26-8a-305 (Ambulance Services); Utah Administrative Code R432-100 (Hospital Licensing); EMTALA (42 U.S.C. §1395dd) requiring emergency screening regardless of ability to pay.

Important Legal Rights

  • EMTALA Right: Any hospital ER must provide a medical screening exam regardless of insurance or ability to pay
  • Good Samaritan Law: Utah Code §58-13-3 protects those rendering emergency care in good faith
  • Mental Health Hold: Utah Code §62A-15-629 allows 24-hour hold for evaluation if danger to self/others

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Driving Yourself: 38% of heart attack patients drive themselves, delaying critical care
  2. Wrong Facility: Going to Timpanogos for stroke instead of Utah Valley's Stroke Center adds 45-minute transfer time
  3. Assuming Insurance Coverage: 22% of Provo ER visits result in surprise out-of-network bills (Utah Insurance Dept 2022)
  4. Delaying Care: Waiting until morning for chest pain increases mortality risk by 40%

Frequently Asked Questions

Which hospital in Provo has the shortest ER wait time?

A. Based on 2023 Utah Department of Health data, Utah Valley Hospital typically has the shortest average ER wait time in Provo at 38 minutes for non-critical cases, compared to the Utah average of 52 minutes. However, this varies by time of day and severity.

What is the average cost of an ER visit in Provo without insurance?

A. A basic Level 3 ER visit in Provo averages $850-$1,200 without insurance. CT scans or procedures can increase costs to $3,000+. Urgent care is significantly cheaper at $150-$300 for similar complaints.

Are there 24-hour urgent care clinics in Provo?

A. No, Provo does not have 24-hour urgent care. The latest closing is Revere Health Urgent Care (until 10 PM). For after-hours care between 10 PM-8 AM, you must go to a hospital Emergency Department.

Official Resources