Urgent & Emergency Care
Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center does NOT provide emergency services.
Emergency Room
For LIFE, LIMB OR EYESIGHT, CALL 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room. The nearest Emergency Room is Canyon Vista Medical Center located at 5700 Highway 90. Their Emergency Room is open 24/7 for emergency service. Other area Emergency Rooms include the Copper Queen Community Hospital in Bisbee and the Benson Hospital. Soldiers Do NOT need a referral for ER visits.
When should I use the Emergency Room?
In general, an emergency condition is one that can permanently impair or endanger your life. Some examples of conditions that need emergency medical care include:
- Compound fracture, which involves a bone protruding through the skin
- Convulsions, seizures, or loss of consciousness
- Deep knife wounds or gunshot wounds
- Fever in a newborn less than 3 months old
- Heavy, uncontrollable bleeding
- Moderate to severe burns
- Poisoning
- Pregnancy-related problems
- Serious head, neck, or back injury
- Severe abdominal pain
- Severe chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Heart attack symptoms, such as chest pain that lasts longer than two minutes
- Stroke symptoms, such as vision loss, sudden numbness, weakness, slurred speech, or confusion
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
Urgent Care
For Active Duty personnel, if you need care immediately and want to go to an Urgent Care Center instead of an Emergency Room, Soldiers will need a pre-authorization with a referral placed to an Urgent Care Center in order to not get a bill. Call the Military Health System Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-874-2273 to get a referral. Dependents & retirees do NOT need a referral to go to Urgent Care.
When should I use Urgent Care?
Should the cut on your finger or the pain in your chest send you to the emergency room or an urgent care center? It’s difficult to be sure. So we’re making matters easy by providing this clear-cut description of where to go for the care you need. An illness or injury that does not appear to be life threatening but can’t wait until the next day should be treated at an urgent care center. Some examples include:
- Accidents and falls
- Cuts that don’t involve much blood but might need stitches
- Breathing difficulties, such as mild to moderate asthma
- Diagnostic services, including X-rays and laboratory tests
- Eye irritation and redness
- Fever or flu
- Minor broken bones and fractures in fingers or toes
- Moderate back problems
- Severe sore throat or cough
- Skin rashes and infections
- Sprains and strains
- Urinary tract infections
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration