Emergency Services
When an emergency happens, fast access to high-quality care can save a life. At Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, our Emergency Department is equipped, staffed, and structured to respond to critical situations with unmatched speed and expertise — right here in the heart of Niagara Falls.
Our team delivers comprehensive emergency care for patients of all ages, backed by advanced technology and immediate access to specialty services located just steps away within the Medical Center.
Why Choose Us?
Fast, Comprehensive Care Under One Roof
We are a full-service Emergency Department with direct, immediate access to on-site imaging, laboratory testing, surgical teams, and the experts of the Golisano Center for Community Health — ensuring faster diagnosis, faster treatment, and better outcomes.
The Heart Center: Life-Saving Cardiac Care Within Seconds
For chest pain, heart attack symptoms, or suspected cardiac events, proximity matters. Our Emergency Department is located just feet from the NFMMC Heart Center and Cardiac Catheterization Lab, which means heart attack patients can receive interventional cardiac care without leaving the building. This eliminates costly delays and has saved countless lives in our community.
Stroke Care When Every Second Counts
If someone is experiencing the signs of a stroke, immediate treatment is crucial. Our ED team is trained in rapid stroke recognition and response, connecting patients instantly to advanced imaging and neurologic treatment pathways. Faster evaluation means better chances for recovery.
Expert Staff, 24/7
Our board-certified emergency physicians, trauma-trained nurses, and support staff are on duty around the clock, providing compassionate, skilled care during life’s most urgent moments.
What We Treat
NFMMC Emergency Services provides care for a full range of emergencies and urgent conditions, including:
- Chest pain and cardiac emergencies
- Stroke symptoms and neurologic issues
- Severe injuries and trauma
- Difficulty breathing or respiratory distress
- Abdominal pain and gastrointestinal issues
- Broken bones, sprains, and orthopedic injuries
- Infections, fever, or sepsis concerns
- Behavioral health emergencies - Niagara County’s only dedicated psychiatric emergency department
- Pediatric emergencies
- And more
No matter the condition, our team is equipped to diagnose, treat, and stabilize patients quickly and effectively.
Heart Attack & Stroke Care: Why Minutes Matter
When it comes to heart attacks and strokes, outcomes improve dramatically when treatment begins within the first minutes of symptom onset. At NFMMC:
- Heart attack patients can go from the ED to the Cardiac Cath Lab in record time — often within minutes.
- Stroke patients receive rapid diagnostic imaging and immediate care pathways to preserve brain function and improve recovery.
This level of speed and integration is possible because our ED, imaging centers, heart center, and specialty teams operate in one coordinated campus.
Our Facility
Our Emergency Department is designed for efficient, rapid response with:
- Private, modern treatment rooms
- Dedicated cardiac and trauma bays
- On-site imaging, including CT and MRI
- A fully staffed cardiac catheterization lab
- In-house lab services for immediate results
- Direct connection to inpatient units and specialty care
You get world-class emergency care without ever leaving Niagara County.
When to Call 911
If you or someone around you is experiencing:
- Chest pain
- Sudden numbness or weakness
- Trouble speaking
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe injury
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Sudden confusion
- Seizure
- Or anything that feels life-threatening
Call 911 immediately. Paramedics can begin treatment on the way and notify our ED so we’re ready the moment you arrive.
Meet Our Medical Director of Emergency Services
Gerald Gorman, MD
Dr. Gerald Gorman has led Emergency Services at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center since 2006, bringing extensive experience and a calm, steady presence to one of the hospital’s busiest departments. A Rochester native, he joined Memorial after several years in a high-volume teaching hospital in Brockton, Massachusetts, where he gained strong training in complex, fast-paced emergency care.
At Memorial, Dr. Gorman oversees an Emergency Department that treats more than 25,000 patients each year. He is known for his hands-on leadership, thorough clinical approach, and deep respect for the teamwork required to keep the ER running smoothly. From physicians and PAs to nurses, techs, security, and front-line staff, he emphasizes that emergency care is a true team effort.
Dr. Gorman meets each shift with focus and compassion, managing everything from critically ill patients to the wide range of challenges that accompany emergency medicine today. Though the work is demanding, he finds it meaningful and grounding. “You’re tired when you go home,” he says, “but you know you’ve accomplished something important.”
Ryan's Story
When Ryan arrived at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center's Emergency Department with chest pain, every minute mattered. Because Memorial's Emergency Department and Heart Center of Niagara work together under one roof, Ryan was quickly evaluated, diagnosed, and connected to the specialized cardiac care he needed without delay.
His experience highlights the importance of having emergency medicine and advanced heart care available in the same facility. For patients experiencing a heart-related emergency, that seamless coordination can make all the difference, ensuring faster treatment, better outcomes, and peace of mind when it matters most.
