FAQ - Albuquerque ER & Hospital
We are open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. In other words, we never close: not even for holidays!
Albuquerque ER & Hospital treats the full range of medical emergencies. As a full-service ER We can diagnose and treat everything from a rash to a heart attack. We also treat physical trauma and injuries from accidents including industrial accidents and automobile accidents.
Yes, we treat patients of all ages and medical conditions. We have child-friendly rooms that are full of toys and stuffed animals to make sure their stay is comfortable.
There is no need to make an appointment with Albuquerque ER & Hospital. If you think you might be having a medical emergency, we encourage you to come in immediately. Albuquerque ER & Hospital can also help if you are sick or injured but are new to the area, are visiting from out of town, or simply cannot get in to see your regular doctor.
It depends entirely on your condition, and we can provide a estimated cost of care before any sort of treatment if you come in for a complimentary basic medical screening.
Albuquerque ER & Hospital is open 24/7, whereas an urgent care clinic will typically only be open 8-12 hours a day. Emergency rooms, like Albuquerque ER & Hospital, are also equipped with advanced, radiology equipment and lab testing capabilities. By contrast, urgent care clinics usually have more limited laboratory and radiology testing.
Another important difference between the two is that Albuquerque ER & Hospital is staffed by board-certified physicians and ER-trained Registered Nurses. While, urgent care clinics may only be staffed by Physician’s Assistants or Nurse Practitioners.
As a standalone emergency center, Albuquerque ER & Hospital features much shorter wait times than typical hospital-based emergency rooms. Albuquerque ER & Hospital doesn’t take patients from 911 ambulance services, therefore minimizing patient volume. Albuquerque ER’s board-certified physicians and experienced Registered Nurses are able to see you more promptly and efficiently, helping you get better and back in the comfort of your home sooner.
You can be admitted to ABQ ER & Hospital. Should you need to be transferred to a higher level of care Albuquerque ER & Hospital will transfer you to the hospital you choose, or the one that your primary care physician or medical specialists prefer. Our staff is also able to initiate the transfer so that you go directly to an inpatient room and can bypass the hospital’s emergency department.
Yes, our diagnostic lab is both CLIA and COLA certified. We can perform the majority of tests that hospital-based ERs perform. These tests are processed onsite, so we can get you the results while you wait. Typical turnaround time for lab results at Albuquerque ER & Hospital is 15-30 minutes.
Yes, our Radiology Department is equipped with modern medical equipment including an X-ray machine, MRI, CT scanner and bedside Ultrasound equipment. Patients are given written radiology reports along with CDs so that they can follow up with primary care physicians or specialists if needed.
The following documentation is required for hospital outpatient services to be rendered:
1. Documentation that supports medical necessity of the outpatient service (e.g. physician's office visit note, or progress note, etc.)
2. A signed and dated physician's order for the outpatient service.
3. All patients without a written order will be seen through the emergency room after a free medical screening (emergency room charges will apply).
Because ABQ ER & Hospital is accredited by the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ), you have the right to submit a complaint regarding the quality of care or safety issues to CIHQ. You are not required to notify CHI Memorial prior to filing the complaint. Information on how to contact CIHQ to file a complaint is as follows:
Online
https://cihq.org/complaint
Mail
Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality
P.O. Box 3620
McKinney, TX 75070
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Phone
512-661-2813
Fax
805-934-8588
In-Person by Appointment:
Contact the Executive Director of CIHQ at 512-661-2813 for instructions.
Billing & Insurance Questions
Albuquerque ER & Hospital accepts all commercial insurance plans and honors in-network benefits for medical emergencies. At this time, we are unable to accept government-funded insurance plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or CHIP.
According to New Mexico guidelines, all insurance carriers are required to pay in-network benefits for any member seeking emergency medical treatment. New Mexico law requires your insurance carrier to pay for your emergency care, whether the emergency room is “in network” or “out of network”. The state of New Mexico empowers you to use “a prudent layperson standard” in considering what constitutes an emergency.
Yes, Albuquerque ER & Hospital always puts patients’ emergency medical needs first. If you are deemed “non-emergent” by one of our emergency physicians and do not have health insurance in place, you will still have the option of using a cash-fee plan to pay for your ER visit.
You will be asked to pay your emergency room copay at the end of your visit.
Your ER visit will be processed by Tyvan Billing and sent to your insurance company. Albuquerque ER & Hospital accepts “in-network” benefits even if your insurance company is “out of network”.
Albuquerque ER & Hospital accepts cash payments, checks, or major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Click here to pay your bill online.
To learn more, visit our Billing & Insurance page.
State law requires patients to be reimbursed for emergency room visits by their insurance carrier. If your insurance company refuses payment for your emergency room visit, you can file a grievance with the New Mexico Department of Insurance. To learn more about the New Mexico Department of Insurance, please visit.
You can also contact our Billing Department, Tyvan Billing, at (713) 357-2535.
Workers' compensation is a state-funded insurance program that gives covered employees income and medical benefits if they're injured while working. New Mexico employers may choose to provide their employees with this coverage. Most employers will inform you as to whether or not you're covered under this state plan.
Workers' compensation pays medical bills and is covered underneath the New Mexico Workers' Compensation Act.
For more information on workers' compensation, visit this page.
If you'd like to file or dispute a claim, call 1-800-255-7965, to speak with a representative with the New Mexico Department of Insurance.