UnityPoint Health - Methodist West Hospital - Emergency Department

1660 60th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50266
515-343-1200

Current Hours: Open 24 hours

Methodist West HospitalJPG

Information

Number of patients waiting reflects the current number of patients waiting to be seen. This number changes frequently and is not exact.

Call 911

For life-threatening conditions that require emergency medical care, call 911.

Hours of Operation

  • Monday: Open 24 hours
  • Tuesday: Open 24 hours
  • Wednesday: Open 24 hours
  • Thursday: Open 24 hours
  • Friday: Open 24 hours
  • Saturday: Open 24 hours
  • Sunday: Open 24 hours


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Methodist West Hospital Emergency Department

The emergency department at Methodist West Hospital serves patients of all ages for trauma, medical and surgical needs. Methodist West Hospital is designated as a Level IV Trauma Center.

Features

  • Private, individual patient rooms
  • State-of-the-art digital radiology
  • Secured department
  • Easy access
  • Bedside registration

 

What Type of Appointment Do I Need?

Primary Care

Primary Care encompasses the comprehensive treatment of a number of diseases in symptoms and specialties including pediatrics, internal medicine and family medicine. Rather than specializing in one particular area of medicine, the physician is trained to meet all the needs of patients as one point of contact. Same-day appointments may be available. Call your clinic or log in to MyUnityPoint to schedule with your provider or a member of their care team.

Examples of symptoms and conditions treated by a primary care provider can include:

  • Allergies
  • Cancer screenings (for select cancers)
  • Disease management (asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, etc.)
  • Long term care or treatment planning
  • Managing existing conditions (migraines, depression, anxiety, arthritis, etc.)
  • Medication refill and medicine checks
  • Minor medical problems and injuries
  • Ongoing symptoms (continued back pain, skin problems, etc.)
  • Physicals/sports physicals
  • Substance abuse
  • Vaccinations
Walk-In Care

Urgent Care and Express treat minor medical problems and injuries that are not life-threatening, but need the attention of a health care provider. These are not an alternative to the emergency room, but offer the ability to get walk-in care without an appointment for all patient ages. Urgent Care is available after hours, weekends and holidays. Our Urgent Care Clinics can provide medical treatment for minor illness and injuries such as:

  • Allergies
  • Burns
  • Colds
  • Coughs
  • Cuts (Stitches)
  • Earaches or Ear Infections
  • Fevers
  • Minor Medical Problems and Injuries
  • Minor Eye Care
  • Flu
  • Fractures (X-Ray On-Site at Most Locations)
  • Infections
  • Sore Throats
  • Sprains, Including Sprained Ankles (X-Ray On-Site at Most Locations)
  • Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
  • Yeast Infections
  • Certain Rapid Tests

Please note: Flu shots, physicals and/or sports physicals are not offered at every walk-in care location.

*If you are experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath, please go to the Emergency Department or call 911 immediately. For less serious medical issues, such as physicals, medication refills or to leave a message for your primary care doctor, you can access your My UnityPoint patient portal 24/7!

Virtual Care

Connect with a UnityPoint Health provider online using MyUnityPoint to access virtual urgent care. Virtual care doctors can diagnose, recommend treatment and prescribe medication when necessary for commonly treated conditions. Available every day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for individuals 2 years and older located in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Virtual care should be used for minor, common ailments and illnesses. Some examples, and the qualifying age to receive virtual urgent care for that condition, include: 

Condition Virtual Urgent Care
Acne 2+
Burn 2+
Cold/Flu 2+
Cold Sores 13+
Constipation 2+
Cough/Upper Respiratory Infection 2+
Diarrhea 2+
Fever 2+
Head Lice 2+
Heartburn 2+
Headache/Migraine 18+
Joint Pan 2+
Rash 2+
Red Eye 2+
Sinuses 2+
Sore Throat 2+
Urinary Tract Infection 13+ (female only)
Vaginal Infection (yeast/bacterial vaginosis) 18+
Vomiting 2+

Emergency Care

Emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for severe or life-threatening conditions. Conditions that require emergency care include excessive bleeding, broken bones, chest pain or trouble breathing. Emergency services include diagnostic testing and access to specialists. 


Examples of symptoms and conditions treated by emergency departments can include:

  • Symptoms of a heart attack, including severe chest pain, sweating and shortness of breath.
  • Profuse bleeding or blood loss that continues even after direct pressure has been placed on the wound.
  • Severe abdominal pain.
  • Sudden dizziness, weakness, loss of coordination, balance or vision problems, which are signs of stroke.
  • High fever and vomiting that continues nonstop for several hours.
  • Signs of meningitis for adults: severe headaches, neck/joint pain and stiffness, vomiting, high temperature, sensitivity to light or babies and small children: high-pitched whimpering/crying, lethargy, fussiness, restlessness, high fever, vomiting, cold extremities, refusing food, pale or blotchy skin.
  • Seizures lasting longer than five minutes.
  • Injuries occurring from an accident or fall - intense back or neck pain, obvious compound fractures and/or dislocations of bones, deep cuts and severe burns.