After Hours Care

What should I do if I get injured or get sick?

Do you know that on average 425,000 people visit Emergency Departments across the United States every DAY… that's over 156 million visits per year in this country. Often those visits are for illness or minor injuries that could have been treated in an urgent care or physician office setting. Not only do unnecessary visits clog up hospital emergency departments, resulting in the average wait time to see a provider being at least one hour and in many cases up to six hours, but the expense for the patient is sometimes cost prohibitive. An average visit to an Emergency Department in NC in 2026 is $3,000.

EDUCATE YOURSELF and GET THE FACTS so that if the need arises for health care at night after 5:00pm, or on the weekend, you can make the right choice of services for you. Health Services is pleased to be able to offer you a variety of resources and options for after-hours care.

Call Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµEMS

From your cell phone dial 828.227.8911 or from any campus land line dial 911 and your Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµEMS team will be dispatched to your on-campus location to provide you with medical assistance, and if that means a trip to the local Emergency Department,  Campus EMS service provides that as well.  There is not a cost for this service; it has been made available for you through your student health fees if the transport is made by the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµEMS service.

Campus EMS workers are trained and certified as Basic Life Support (BLS) EMTs. If your emergency is more advanced, Harris EMS is the local Advanced Life Support ambulance service and provides back up assistance for that level of care.

Visit Urgent Care

There are several urgent care centers in the local community.   Consider Urgent Care when Health Services is closed for illnesses or injuries such as:

  • Minor burns or injuries
  • Coughs, colds, and sore throats
  • Rash or other skin irritations
  • Mild asthma
  • Broken Bones
  • Sprains and strains
  • Ear infections
  • Fever or flu-like symptoms
  • Animal bites

Local Urgent Care Locations: 
Carolina West Urgent Care                          90 E Main St Ste2       828-377-1144
Harris Regional Hospital Urgent Care   176 Walmart Plaza      828-631-9462
Jackson Medical Associates                       1188 Skyland Drive     828-339-2273

Visit the Emergency Department

Harris Regional Hospital is located in Sylva NC, 7 miles from campus and is the closest hospital emergency department. If you are experiencing an emergency situation, do not hesitate to go to the Emergency Department.  Call 911 if you need ambulance transportation. 

How do you decide when a medical condition rises to the level of a medical "emergency?"

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) offers a list of warning signs that indicate a medical emergency.

  • Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
  • Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
  • Confusion or changes in mental status
  • Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
  • Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Unusual abdominal pain
  • Coughing or vomiting blood
  • Changes in vision
  • Any sudden or severe pain
  • Uncontrolled bleeding
  • Suicidal feelings
  • Shortness of breath
  • Changes in vision

When in doubt seek assistance from one of the resources listed above immediately.  If your illness or injury occurs during Health Services' normal operating hours, please visit us in Bird that day. Call 828.227.7640 if you have any questions.