Did you stay out in the sun too long? Down a few too many margaritas? Fall victim to a dodgy buffet?
Or is it something more serious? Asthma attack? Arthritis flare-up? Sudden breathing problem? Allergic reaction?
The good news is that, statistically speaking, Las Vegas is one of the safest places in America to fall prey to a medical emergency, thanks to most casino security officers passing basic first-aid courses and being trained to perform CPR and use on-site defibrillators (in the case of a heart attack). Also, response times for medical emergencies, especially in casinos, are generally faster than in other major metro areas (a study in the '90s found it to be right around five minutes, and times have improved since then), so survival rates are high.
Of course, in an emergency outside a casino, you call 911 and wait. However, if it's not a critical situation and you just need a doctor during your visit, however, here are some suggestions:
Las Vegas Strip Urgent Care, serving Las Vegas since 1995, puts you in touch with a doctor quickly; the doctor comes to your hotel room or location around the Strip. They have a good website, the phone number is 702-677-2644, and doctors are on call 24/7. You first get a free phone consultation and if need be, the doctor arrives with the hour. They can also dispatch a 24-hour prescription delivery service.
There are three CVS pharmacies on Las Vegas Blvd. with MinuteClinic services:
At Minute Clinics, Master's-prepared nurse practitioners and physician assistants attend to minor health problems that need an expert, but not necessarily a medical doctor: minor illnesses and injuries, vaccinations and injections, travel health, and more. They’re in-network with most major insurers, so patients are responsible for either their copay or the price listed on the treatments and services menu. For those who are uninsured or prefer to pay out-of-pocket, MinuteClinic accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. Go to the website to see how long a wait there is and to hold your place in line. Several additional MinuteClinics can be found in CVS stores around town.
As far as pharmacies are concerned, there are currently three Walgreens drugstores on the Strip, on the corner of Sahara, by the Venetian, and in front of Planet Hollywood.
Of those hotels we’ve surveyed, only some, including the entire Caesars group and the Venetian, have Emergency Medical Technicians on staff. These are generally EMT-1 (basic) level, i.e., first responders trained to provide basic emergency medical care at the scene of an accident and while transporting patients by ambulance to the hospital under medical direction. An EMT-1 has the emergency skills to assess a patient’s condition and manage respiratory, cardiac, and trauma emergencies, but cannot dispense medication (other than oxygen) or use complicated equipment that requires more advanced training. To the best of our knowledge, most hotels have doctors available on call (not physically located on property, but usually within a 5- to 15- minute drive away), but this is a very expensive service to use. Better to call Las Vegas Strip Urgent Care.
For those properties located on or near the Strip, the closest hospital is the Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, located to the east of the Strip at 3186 S. Maryland Parkway. In addition to a 24-hour emergency room, Sunrise facilities include a full maternity ward, rehab unit, poison-control center, and children’s hospital.
From casinos located in the downtown area, the nearest hospitals are the UMC Quick Care Center at 2231 W. Charleston and Valley Hospital at 620 Shadow Lane (just off W. Charleston).