One of the first hospitals Buena Park residents turn to in an emergency is West Anaheim Medical Center. Located near Beach Blvd in Anaheim, it is about a 5-minute drive from the center of Buena Park. The emergency room (ER) operates 24 hours a day and offers key medical services including general medicine, surgery, imaging diagnostics, and physical therapy.

It is operated under Prospect Medical Holdings and accepts a variety of insurance plans, including Medi-Cal and Medicare. Korean interpretation services can be requested at the time of appointment or provided through phone interpretation services, depending on the hospital.

Garden Grove Hospital and Medical Center is also a frequently used hospital located just 10 minutes west of Buena Park. Situated in downtown Garden Grove, it is a comprehensive hospital that offers various medical services including emergency care, obstetrics, pediatrics, and cardiology.

Due to the high Korean population in western Orange County, medical staff who speak Korean or provide interpretation support are relatively well-equipped. It is an independently operated hospital, not under Dignity Health, so it is important to verify insurance acceptance in advance.

When Buena Park residents choose a hospital, there are three main factors to consider. First, check if the hospital is in the insurance network (In-Network). If it is not an emergency, using an out-of-network hospital can significantly increase out-of-pocket costs. Second, whether a primary care physician (PCP) is designated. HMO plan members need a referral from their PCP before seeing a specialist. Third, the distinction between emergency and urgent care. If the situation is not life-threatening, using an Urgent Care clinic instead of the ER can reduce wait times and costs significantly.

Urgent Care clinics in the Buena Park area are distributed around major thoroughfares like Orangethorpe Ave and Beach Blvd. Chain Urgent Care clinics such as NextCare, CityMD, and PM Pediatrics allow walk-ins without appointments and operate on weekends and evenings. In the early days of Korean immigration, there were instances where medical services had to be accessed without insurance; in such cases, the free or low-cost clinic programs under the Orange County Health Care Agency can be utilized. Information on income-based medical assistance can be found at the Orange County Health Care Agency website (ochealthinfo.com).