Emergency Service

Mammoth Hospital's Emergency Department The Emergency Department at Mammoth Hospital manages all types of both major and minor emergencies. The department is open 24 hours a day for anyone who needs immediate medical attention. We welcome walk-in visits; no appointment is needed. Those who are too ill to be brought by car may call 911 in order to be transported by Mono County’s paramedics. Our specially-trained emergency staff and fully-equipped department are ready to provide acute medical care to visitors and residents alike.

This modern Emergency Department has a seven-bed triage area, a decontamination room, a two-bay trauma resuscitation suite, and nine private examination rooms. The department is equipped with cardiac telemetry monitoring, defibrillators, ventilators, digital x-rays, EKG machine, and ultrasound.

Adjacent to the Emergency Department is Mammoth Hospital’s Imaging Department with digital x-ray, fluoroscopy, diagnostic ultrasound, multi-detector CT scan, and MRI. Additional support is provided by the hospital’s Cardiopulmonary Department, the in-patient Pharmacy, and the Laboratory with blood bank. Emergency patients needing further care can be admitted to the Med/Surg unit, the ICU, the Labor & Delivery ward, or the OR. Should a patient’s medical needs exceed the resources of Mammoth Hospital, we will arrange for transport to a larger medical center.

Directions to the Emergency Department
Mammoth Hospital is located in the town of Mammoth Lakes on Sierra Park Rd., between Meridian Blvd. and Hwy 203/Main St. While driving, look for the blue "H" signs. Once you are in front of the hospital, follow the "Emergency" signs to the new entrance around the back of the complex. If you are unsure of your ability to make it here safely by car, please summon the paramedics by calling 911.

Contacting the Emergency Department
Our direct phone number is (760) 924-4076. Please be aware that in some situations we are limited in the amount of information that we may provide by phone. For protection of privacy, federal law prevents us from revealing information about our patients without that individual’s permission.

If you have questions about symptoms that you are experiencing, it is best that you come in to be seen. We wish that we could provide care by phone, but it may be risky to make a diagnosis without being able to see and examine you in person.

Emergency Department Staff
The anxiety and uncertainty of having a sudden illness or injury can be compounded by the need to seek care at an unfamiliar health care facility. Rest assured that at Mammoth Hospital the emergency services are provided by a team of capable and caring emergency physicians, registered nurses, clerks, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). In addition, a back-up panel of more physician specialists is on call if their services are needed. All members of our team have the education, experience, and rigorous on-going training to provide for the exceptional needs of emergency patients and their families.

Every one of Mammoth Hospital’s emergency nurses is certified in adult cardiac life support (ACLS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS or ENPC), and neonatal resuscitation (NRP). Many also hold national specialty certification in emergency nursing (CEN). In addition, the majority of our emergency nurses are Mobile Intensive Care Nurses (MICNs) who provide medical direction by radio to the county paramedics. All patients who arrive in the department are first evaluated by an emergency nurse who is authorized to initiate treatment, including the ordering of any necessary tests and the institution of pain-relieving measures. In this way care is started immediately, even before the emergency physician reaches the bedside.

Mammoth Hospital’s six emergency physicians have built a dynamic, close-knit specialty group that is committed to providing their patients with the highest quality, evidence-based, acute care possible. Every patient who comes to the emergency department is seen by one of these six physicians, all of whom are both residency-trained and board-certified in Emergency Medicine. Having received their specialty training at large, busy academic trauma centers, they are well prepared to deliver a full range of emergency services, from minor emergent care to life-saving critical care and resuscitation. These clinicians treat acute injuries and medical illnesses in patients of all ages, from newborn through geriatric. They are skilled in handling the particular medical challenges of the Eastern Sierra, including altitude-related problems and ski and snowboard trauma. All of our emergency physicians live in Mammoth Lakes and are devoted to our mountain community.

Mammoth Emergency Physicians Group

David Bassler, MD ABEM

Dr. Bassler received his B.S. in Biochemistry from UC Davis, where he was awarded numerous academic honors, including the College Medal for graduating first in his class. He then attended medical school at UC San Francisco, followed by a residency in Emergency Medicine at Highland General Hospital in Oakland. In addition to practicing in the Emergency Department at Mammoth Hospital, Dr. Bassler is an ACLS instructor for our physicians, nurses, and paramedics.

Kyle Howell, MD ABEM

Dr. Howell graduated from Michigan State University with high honors and a B.S. in Medical Humanities. He attended medical school at Wayne State University in Detroit, graduating with clinical honors. He completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at Saint John Hospital in Detroit where he was selected as Chief Resident. Dr. Howell is a former Chief of Staff at Mammoth Hospital and currently serves on the Board of the Healthcare Trust of Mammoth Lakes.

Chris Hummel, MD ABEM

Dr. Hummel graduated from UC Santa Barbara with high honors and a B.S. in the combined study of biology, chemistry, and ergonomics. He attended medical school at UC Irvine and completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Dr. Hummel is currently the Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Mammoth Hospital. He is active on hospital committees, has co-authored several clinical research papers, and is an instructor for ACLS and ATLS.

Richard Shedd, MD ABEM

Dr. Shedd pursued his undergraduate education at USC, where he received a B.S. in Biology and graduated cum laude, before attending USC School of Medicine. He then completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at LA County-USC Medical Center. Dr. Shedd is the Medical Director for our emergency medical service (EMS) program, providing education and medical oversight for Mono County’s paramedics and Mammoth Hospital’s MICNs who staff our radio base station.

Stephen Swisher, MD ABEM

Dr. Swisher received his B.A. in Philosophy from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, before attending Saint Louis University School of Medicine where he earned several academic honors and graduated cum laude. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Swisher then joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as a clinical instructor in their Emergency Medicine residency program. In 2003 Dr. Swisher and his wife, Dr. Mary Bassler, joined the medical staff at Mammoth Hospital.

Jennie Walker, MD ABEM

Dr. Walker graduated with honors from UCLA with a B.S. in Physiology. She received her medical degree from the Chicago Medical School and served her internship at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. She completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Kern Medical Center where she was selected as Chief Resident. In addition to practicing in the Emergency Department at Mammoth Hospital, Dr. Walker is the hospital's immediate past Chief of Staff.

Billing / Patient Accounts Department:   (800) 753-0414, or locally (760)924-4055

Patient Liability / Collections:  (800) 753-0414, x2272; or locally (760) 924-4206

Or email: billing@mammothhospital.com