How Do Casinos Handle a Guest Getting Sick during Their Stay?

People get unexpectedly sick when they visit Las Vegas. How do the casinos handle a person who becomes ill during a visit? Is there an in-house doctor? Do they have a protocol to get medical care for a customer? Are the staff trained in CPR? And of course the worst case scenario, what is done when a patron expires in a room?

No casino we know of has an in-house doctor on call. A few on the Strip used to, but they went the way of free parking and double-zero roulette.

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.

We did, however, ask around and here's what we found.

For all its size and huge personnel department, MGM Resorts International doesn't have any medical staff, not even on call, taking a case-by-case approach. “Our response and protocol procedures rely on the severity and specific needs on the guest. Our staff is trained to dispatch medical assistance when needed,” spokeswoman Callie Driehorst tells us.

Boyd Gaming takes a less catch-as-catch-can approach. “First, we don't have an in-house doctor on staff. However, we do have security officers trained in first aid, CPR, and defibrillator use. We were actually the first gaming company to begin deploying defibrillators at our properties in the late 1990s,” says spokesman David Strow.

“If a customer needs medical assistance, our security officers provide first aid or attempt resuscitation if necessary,” Strow continues. “Paramedics will be called if needed or if the customer requests it. We defer to paramedics to provide medical assistance beyond first aid or resuscitation, and we always offer to call paramedics whenever a customer asks for medical assistance.”

Then there are those who suffer the ultimate medical emergency. “If a patron does pass away in a hotel room, we immediately call both paramedics and local law enforcement,” Strow concludes. “In most cases our security officers will attempt to resuscitate the patron until paramedics arrive, unless it is obvious the patron cannot be resuscitated.”

We imagine that's the case with all casinos, as it is with any public space: Whoever gets there first does what he or she can, while calling 911 as quickly as possible.

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Bobby White Feb-05-2019

Question of the day

We have had 3 med emergencies in Vegas, the D gets an A, Cromwell a B-, & Ballys a F.

Pamela Feb-05-2019

Immediate Care on Harmon

Several years ago we were staying at Planet Hollywood. My husband had bleeding from his ear and when I went to the concierge to see if there was a doctor on call he referred us to a clinic on Harmon not far from the strip. I don't know if it's still there, but I do know that CVS has a setup by the pharmacy at some of their stores. I think Walgreens may also have some.

Rodney Griffith Feb-05-2019

Choking

I saw a man choke to death in the Silverton buffet. No employee attempted to help him. A customer tried to help but failed.

Toad Feb-05-2019

Tourist and Minute Clinics

As Pamela  mentioned there is a tourist clinic on Harmon and Minute Clinics in certain stores such as CVS that can handle smaller things.

I was turned away from the CVS and was treated at the clinic on Harmon. My PCP though was not happy with my care, or directions for my injury once I got home. So be careful.

Glenn Clayton Feb-05-2019

comment on help

i tore my hamstring muscle in my room at the encore a few years back. i went to the concierge who directed me to the immediate care on harmon. that was it. except i had to fill out an incident  form for security . they couldn't care less. when i told the front desk that i might have trouble flying home so my stay might be prolonged they gave me a standard rate, with no care that the reason why I might have to stay longer was that I slipped on their marble floor.

Jackie Feb-05-2019

Be Prepared

I have a friend who frequently visits Las Vegas who commented to me once that Las Vegas Medical Care sucks.  I asked her what she does to avoid bad care.  She told me that she checks to see if her medical insurance covers her in Las Vegas, who to contact for care, and what her expenses would be for out of area coverage.  She found out that she had to supplement her coverage premium with out of area coverage and added a provider service that existed in Las Vegas.  Even with such precautions, she found medical care in Las Vegas to be sub par. Therefore I suggest that anyone coming from out of State first check with their medical care providers for coverage in Las Vegas and where to go for covered care while here.  Don't gamble with your health.

O2bnVegas Feb-05-2019

Walgreen's by Wynn

My husband was seen in the Walgreen's next to Wynn.  Their sign indicated a drop in clinic like urgent care.  After waiting a short time someone in a white coat (nurse? pharmacist?...can't remember) took a history and checked his b/p.  It was OK.  I had dx'd him with low b/p, perhaps should hold his b/p meds.  Wished I had brought my own cuff from home.  That was a couple years ago.  Not sure about now.

In fairness to Las Vegas, I was in St. Louis on a meeting, at an upscale hotel.  I got a horrible cough/cold/aches, etc. When I asked hotel clerks where I could be seen, maybe get an Rx for an abx or something, they looked at me like I had asked the meaning of life.  After much discussion among them they suggested a place.  A $20 taxi ride took me to a clinic.  Walked in, was told it was only for employees of the hotel, a workman's comp outfit.  They couldn't even suggest a clinic for regular people.  Back to the hotel, to bed (another $20).

Deke Castleman Feb-05-2019

This in from Ed via email

"Wow. I read that this morning. I couldn't believe how uncaring these places are! For all the money they bring in, you'd think they could do more for you than you can do for yourself by calling 911! When the linq was the imperial palace, it seems to me they had a regular medical facility on one of their floors. Maybe it's time to resurrect that idea."

Deke Castleman Feb-05-2019

And this in from Hank

"Stayed at the Imperial one year and inquired about medical care. 
I was told they had a walk in clinic. 
I went there and was told I needed to pony up $600 cash 💵 before proceeding. 
Nice 👍."

[email protected] Feb-05-2019

I have to ask

"went the way of ... double-zero roulette" - so what do they have now, triple zero roulette?  I've never been a roulette player, myself, but I had no idea that double-zero has gone away.

Llew Feb-05-2019

Mystory

A few years ago, I got food poisoning on my last night in Las Vegas.  After a full night of my body, um, trying to eliminate the source, I finally gave up.  I needed medical assistance.  
 At 6 AM, I called the front desk (I was staying at the 4 Queens) and asked if they had a doctor on call.  When they asked why, I told them.  Before ambulance arrived to take me to an ER, the front desk attend  told me to call them when I was discharged and they would send someone to bring me back to the hotel.  
My biggest concern was that I would not be able to return my rental car on time (I got it thru Priceline) and that I would charged big bucks for an "extra day."  When I got back to the 4 Queens, 2 security guards were waiting to let me in the room.  I literally threw everything into my suitcases.  The guards helped me get to my car and load it.  I made it to the rental return and my flight on time.  
I think the 4 Queens did an excellent job of taking care of me that day.  Kudos to them!

Deke Castleman Feb-06-2019

This also in

"My husband got very sick while we were staying the Paris Hotel. We called front desk. They got us a taxi that came and took us to a Minor Emergency Clinic. The taxi stayed until my husband was finished with the Dr. They brought us to the Pharmacy for Med's, then brought us back to the Hotel, no taxi charge. We will never forget what a wonderful thing the Paris Hotel did for my husband. He was not sick over anything that happen at the Hotel. I just wanted once again to the the Hotel for helping us."

Question of the Day - 05 February 2019

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