How Do Vegas Hotels Handle a Visitor Getting Sick?

When a visitor becomes ill at a Strip hotel how is this handled by the hotel. Is there an in-house MD or aid station? Are the employees trained in CPR? Is there a protocol set up to handle guests or is the sick guest on their own?

According to an MGM Resorts International spokeswoman, nothing has changed in the past two years, except that all its security personnel are trained in CPR. As we wrote at the time, “Rather than keep (cost-intensive) medical staff on payroll, let alone around the clock, casinos and most hotels throughout the world rely on CPR-trained security personnel and first responders from the police, fire department, and EMT services. If the medical emergency escalates beyond that level, it is treated off-site.”

Alan Feldman, who’s been around the industry for decades, first with Mirage Resorts, later with MGM Resorts International, recalls, “There haven’t been in-house doctors for at least 30 years. There have been referrals, but that’s mostly direct to local hospital emergency rooms.”

He continues, “Security staff at most of the major hotels have some members trained in advanced CPR and/or defrib techniques. Heart-related events are by far the most common among serious medical emergencies. More generally, there is the natural result of ‘Vegas Flu,’ which usually involves a mix of alcohol, very little sleep, heat, and very dry desert air.”

If you’re feeling sick, facilities will dispatch in-room physician service to you. While perhaps not definitive, a Google search for “quick care facilities near the Las Vegas Strip” turned up some of the following:

Vegas Quick Care: It promises 24-hour availability for in-room treatment, prescriptions and a medical hotline, as well as service within the hour.

Las Vegas Strip Urgent Care offers similar services, plus hospital referrals and 48-hour follow-up on your medical urgency. Like Vegas Quick Care, it accepts all major credit cards (and cash) but you’ll have to bill your insurance yourself.

CareNow Urgent Care: Located at 4575 Charleston Blvd., this is probably your best option if you are staying downtown. Thanks to current health constraints, physician visits take virtual form but you can also be tested for Coronavirus at the clinic, which opens at 8 a.m. every morning.

If none of these options suits your needs, seek out your hotel concierge. In any true emergency, of course, call 911. We hope this has been helpful.

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Kevin Lewis Apr-11-2021

The best place to have a heart attack

When I lived in Vegas, my doctor remarked that other than a hospital, the best place to be if you had a heart attack was in a large casino. Security would usually be there in a minute or less and were trained to administer first aid.

The customer is then evaluated: how much money does he have on him? Is he a low-roller or a high-roller? What sort of action has he given the casino? Has he been winning or losing? Does he have a player's card? Paramedics are called to take the more valuable players to the hospital.

In the good old days, they used to comp your ambulance and the first bottle of oxygen. Now, they take it out of your player's club points.

Dave Kamsler Apr-11-2021

Sick at MGM

About 20 years ago I got sick while staying at the MGM Grand.  I used to get these really bad throat infections from time to time that would clear up with antibiotics.  I called the front desk to see if there was a hotel doctor, which there wasn’t, but they had security meet me in the lobby, who took me via golf cart to what I believe is an urgent care place mostly used for MGM employees.  It was on Harmon, sort of behind the MGM Grand Garden.   I was in and out of there in about an hour, I paid something like a $75 copay, and when I was done, I called the hotel front desk again and they sent the security guard back with the golf cart to pick me up.  He even stopped at the Walgreens next door for me so that I could get my prescription, and then he took me back to the hotel.  The whole experience was about 2 hours from start to finish but I was good as new after that.

gaattc2001 Apr-11-2021

We had a medical incident once in Laughlin at about 2:00 AM...

The hotel emergency team was up to the room in five minutes and the paramedics in fifteen, with all kinds of equipment. Things got a little crowded.
They did an exam and history (which included some heart problems); ran a bunch of tests; and decided it was probably food poisoning. Stayed with us about half an hour, and left with the advice to call back immediately if necessary. If the situation hadn't improved, we would have wound up at the Bullhead City regional medical center. 
Everybody was very efficient and professional. Filled out some forms, but there was no charge. 
By morning things were better, and they extended check-out-time a couple of hours for us. Got home all right with no further difficulties.
Since then I've seen those emergency teams on the casino floors in both Laughlin and Las Vegas, and have a new appreciation for them.

JimBeam Apr-11-2021

Treasure Island

I had a bad gallbladder attack in Las Vegas and had to be put into emergency surgery on Sunday, the same day we were supposed to check out after a weekend stay. While I was in surgery, my girlfriend went to the TI front desk and explained what happened. The manager said, "No problem, $20/night, stay as long as you need". After recovering - I needed a few days after surgery until I could walk again - and when my gf told me this, I thought, "yeah right, no one in Vegas gives that rate!" But sure enough, at check out (the *following* Sunday, mind you), the bill was something like $125. This was in the 2005 timeframe. I don't know who owned TI at that time but I will be forever grateful.

Edso Apr-11-2021

Great Story, Jim

It's great to see the TI do that for you and your girlfriend.  It shows that there is some humanity and the casinos aren't just after your hard earned dough.

jpfromla Apr-11-2021

Kevin Lewis

God forbid if you are over-comped....

jpfromla Apr-11-2021

Or...

Or has a marker

Martyn Apr-11-2021

Hotel Room House Calls

On NYE 2017 I came down with a full-on case of the flu (fever, shivers, aches & pain, the whole deal).  My casino host referred me to "Prestige House Calls".  On Jan 2nd they sent a doctor to my room on the strip.  He came well equipped with a giant equipment bag like a paramedic.  I got a couple of shots, a nebulizer treatment and some prescriptions, which helped tremendously.  The bill for the doctor's 1.5 hour visit was $3,450 (!) but the whole thing was paid for by my travel insurance.  I always buy insurance when I travel, the premium for that trip was $80.  Best $80 I ever spent.

Kevin Lewis Apr-11-2021

$3,450

For that amount, you should have gotten medical treatment, medications, a steak dinner delivered to your room, a bottle of champagne, and two hours with a hooker. And a buffet comp.

The medical company obviously bills drastic amounts because their customers are either insured (as you were) or high-rollers who don't care. Yet another Vegas instance of gouging and taking advantage. I'm sure that travel insurance premiums are much higher than they would otherwise be as a result of nonsensical charges like this.

Glad you felt better, though!

Eric Forman Apr-11-2021

On that $3450...

Its highly unlikely the travel insurance paid that full amount There is more bargaining with non-contracted insurance companies than in a Moraccan bazaar. The sticker price for medical service is almost entirely fictional, like the sticker price on a car, only there's far more room for haggling.

And if you do have a medical emergency while in Vegas, your regular health insurance will cover you (minus copays and deductibles, of course) at any emergency room if the need is urgent. If you don't have to rush to an ER, call the phone number on your insurance card to find the nearest contracted facility to ensure you're covered.

Jerry Patey Apr-11-2021

Corona

? Is what if you get sick and test pos for corona. By law you are quarantined and put in holding facility for two weeks of quarantine. You do not get on plane and go home. Luckily if you are not put on ventilator where there is 90% mortality rate. I read it was RIO but not sure. Do you think this might enter your decision whether to go to Vegas right now. Maybe mayor or your fine gov should make a statement on this. It it kept quiet?  See if you get get a corona rx kit from your doctor. Cannot give you contents as it is illegal. Your Pcp prob can. Could save your life by keeping you out of hospital Er and ventilators. 

Ps. CDC has changed format of info. It is now so complicated that I with mayor in chem abd biology find it hard to get info. There are people who do. Good luck

David Villadsen Apr-11-2021

tdave49

A few years ago, while staying at the Orleans, my wife became ill from a chronic condition and needed to be hospitalized. They called 911 for an ambulance, sent security to our room and eased the way to the hospital. They also sent security to pick us up when she was released.

Question of the Day - 11 April 2021

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