Peter Lougheed Centre

Best Times to Visit

About Peter Lougheed Centre

Peter Lougheed Centre (PLC) is one of Calgary's largest and busiest hospitals, operating a 24/7 emergency department that serves Calgary's northeast communities and acts as a regional facility for Southern Alberta under Alberta Health Services. With over 600 beds and space for 159 emergency beds, the ED is equipped to handle major trauma, cardiac emergencies, psychiatric crises, and a full range of acute medical and surgical conditions. Patients are triaged using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), ensuring the most critically ill are seen first.

Services & Specialties

24/7 Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Coronary Care Unit, Major trauma care, Cardiac emergency care, Crisis intervention and psychiatric assessment, Mental Health Intensive Care Unit, Ambulatory care (Cardiac Diagnostics, Respiratory, GI, Neurodiagnostics, Gynecology), CT imaging, MRI, Fluoroscopy, Nuclear medicine, Ultrasound, General radiography, Laboratory services, Pharmacy services, Addiction Recovery and Community Health (ARCH) Team, Interpreter and translation services, Rooftop helipad for emergency air transport, Anesthesiology, General surgery, Vascular surgery, Respirology, Psychiatry, Pathology.

Amenities

• Market Café (basement level)
• Courtyard General Café
• Second Cup coffee outlet
• ATM
• Retail pharmacy (outpatient)
• Gift shop
• Sacred Space (chapel/spiritual care)
• Knowledge Centre / Library
• Rehabilitation services
• Spiritual care services
• Elevators and accessibility lifts

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care → · 98 walk-in clinics in Calgary →

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Compare hospital wait times across Canada. View all wait times →

Tips Before You Go

• Peter Lougheed Centre historically has the highest patient volumes of any emergency department in Calgary — if your condition is non-urgent, consider a Calgary walk-in clinic or Health Link 811 to avoid long waits.
• Use the main emergency entrance near the surface parking lot off 26th Ave NE for the fastest access to triage.
• Interpreter and translation services are available at the ED — let staff know at triage if you need language support.
• The ARCH (Addiction Recovery and Community Health) Team is available to support patients in the ED and inpatient units — ask staff if you or a loved one would benefit from this service.
• If you are arriving by transit, bus routes 303, 38, and 43 stop within a short walk of the hospital — plan your route ahead of time using the Calgary Transit app.

What to Bring

• Government-issued photo ID (e.g., Alberta driver's licence or passport)
• Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) card
• List of current medications, dosages, and allergies
• Provincial health number or personal health information if known
• Payment method for parking if driving
• Phone charger or portable battery for long waits
• Snacks and water for accompanying support persons
• Contact information for your family doctor or specialist

Frequently Asked Questions

About ER Wait Times

Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.

Wait times are estimates based on Alberta health data. Actual wait times may vary.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.