Frequently Asked Questions
What is a freestanding emergency center?
Like any hospital emergency department, a freestanding emergency department (ED) is open 24/7/365 and is equipped to treat patients with illnesses and injuries that require a higher level of care than urgent care facilities offer.
What conditions can a freestanding ED treat?
Open 24/7/365 with lab and radiology equipment, the freestanding ED can treat a wide variety of serious illnesses and injuries, including severe chest pain, severe allergic reaction, severe respiratory distress, broken bones, cuts requiring stitches, concussions and other conditions.
Who staffs it?
Board-certified emergency physicians, registered nurses and other patient care providers.
How is it different from an urgent care center?
Freestanding EDs offer a higher level of care than an urgent care center or physician's office – with 24/7 operations, advanced medical equipment like CT scan machines and emergency medicine-trained physicians.
Do ambulances bring patients to the freestanding ED?
We work with local emergency services to facilitate the transportation of patients to and from the new freestanding ED.
What happens to the emergency department at the hospital?
The current emergency department at Baldwin Health will continue to provide the same services it does today. The freestanding ED is another option for emergency care in our community. We anticipate, with the growth of Baldwin County, the need for these services will continue to increase.
What happens if a patient comes to a freestanding ED, but should have gone to a hospital?
The freestanding ED provides the same level of care as the main hospital ED. In cases where patients require a hospital admission, we can begin that process at the freestanding ED. Test results and other records will be available through Baldwin Health's electronic medical record system (EMR), ensuring a smoother transition and continuity of care between the ED and the hospital inpatient setting.
Won't it be more expensive to get care in a freestanding ED than in an urgent care center?
Freestanding EDs are equipped to treat more serious conditions than urgent care centers. Unlike most urgent cares, the freestanding ED will be open 24/7/365 and will have emergency diagnostic services on site, including X-ray, CT scanning, ultrasound and laboratory tests. It will provide many of the same services provided in the Baldwin Health main hospital ED.
What services does the FED offer?
The freestanding ED provides the same services the hospital's emergency department provides today. Many emergencies can be entirely managed at an FED.
Where is the facility located?
It is located adjacent to Jack Edwards Airport in Gulf Shores, with Highway 59 frontage. The site was selected to improve accessibility and better serve the growing populations who live and work on the Gulf Coast.