Gulf Shores and Orange Beach city officials, stakeholders, medical professionals and residents were in attendance to celebrate the ribbon cutting at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center’s Freestanding Emergency Department (FED) July 23.
The 14,000 square-foot-facility opened in May and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to serve patients who experience medical emergencies and is equipped to treat patients with illnesses and injuries that require a higher level of care than urgent care facilities offer.
“South Baldwin Regional Medical Center’s Freestanding Emergency Department is providing an additional access point to quality care for people in south Baldwin County and surrounding areas,” said Eric Roach, CEO at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center. “Immediately after we opened the FED in mid-May 2021, it was clear having an emergency room located south of our main campus was filling an important need. An average of more than 55 patients each day have already received the same quality emergency room care they’ve come to expect at our main campus in Foley – treatment for broken bones, heat stroke, heart emergencies and more – but in this convenient location off Highway 59 and close to the beaches.”
The South Baldwin Regional Medical Center Freestanding Emergency Department is located at 3590 Gulf Shores Parkway, adjacent to Jack Edwards Airport. It features nine patient rooms and one trauma room with a large nurses' station in the center. Ambulances bring patients in through a dedicated rear entrance. The helipad is located to the side with a dedicated entrance door.
The interior of the 14,000 square-foot-facility has been decorated to reflect the area with coastal artwork and a beachy color palette. When patients walk through the front entrance, a check-in area will direct patients to the emergency room waiting area or the outpatient waiting area. Patients needing lab work, x-rays, mammography or other imaging can come to the facility instead of going to the Foley campus. The lab and imaging are staffed 24 hours a day.
“The addition of the FED completes another step in the city’s Vision 2025 for Sustainability which includes providing leading-edge health care opportunities for residents and visitors,” said Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft.
Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon was unable to attend the ribbon cutting but sent a statement which Roach read to those in attendance. The statement read:
“Coupled with our city ambulance service, the new Freestanding Emergency Room provides an outstanding benefit to our community. Now when a medical call comes in, hopefully we’ll be at the individual’s door in three to four minutes with a paramedic and if it is an emergency, we’ll be at the emergency room in under 15 minutes. I have no doubt that it will save lives. We greatly appreciate South Baldwin Regional Medical Center’s investment and commitment to our area. It is a huge addition to our island and the location makes perfect sense because it is centrally located for everyone’s benefit.”
