Injuries don't always occur during office hours, so it's nice to know there's emergency care available.

Some locations see patients after work or on weekends, or without appointments.

The Williams-Ario Regional Emergency Center at Benefis East, 1101 26th St. S., 455-5200, is always open, but it's a regular hospital emergency room.

Don't go there for a cold or other minor illness. The charge is much more than a regular doctor visit.

The ER treats more than 35,000 patients annually, providing emergency services to the community 24 hours a day, according to Pete Lucas, Registered Nurse and manager of Emergency Services at Benefis Healthcare.

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"The Williams-Ario Regional Emergency and Trauma Center is the portal of entry into Benefis Healthcare. Access to full service, quality healthcare, begins in the Emergency Department and continues throughout the hospital stay," Lucas says.

Beyond the emergency room, Great Falls offers several walk-in clinics for nonemergency care:

• Great Falls Immediate Care Center has moved into the Clinic's main building at 1400 29th St. S., 771-0000.
• Missouri River Healthcare, 926 13th Ave. S., takes appointments or walk-ins. Call 761-5252.
• Great Falls Clinic Northwest, 1600 Division Road, takes appointments and walk-ins. Phone 268-1600.
• MONARC Injury Center, 500 15th Ave. S. at Benefis West, takes walk-in visits by people injured during sports, work or leisure activities, or with other bone or muscle problems. Call 455-2130.