South Baldwin Regional Medical Center’s Freestanding Emergency Department Provides Quicker Access to Critical Emergency Medical Care

7/23/2021

Gulf Shores, AL – South Baldwin Regional Medical Center hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, July 23, for the new Freestanding Emergency Department (FED), now open in Gulf Shores. The more than 14,000-square-foot facility offers patients another option for 24/7 emergency services in the region, in addition to the main hospital campus located in Foley.

“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 new Freestanding Emergency Department is located at 3590 Gulf Shores Parkway, just south of County Road 4. Staffed by emergency physicians, nurses and staff, the facility has nine exam rooms and one major exam room, on-site lab services, diagnostic imaging for MRI, X-ray, CT with fluro, ultrasound, mammography and DEXA scan for bone density.

Many emergency services can be effectively managed at the freestanding emergency department without the need for transfer to a traditional hospital setting. However, if a higher level of care is needed, relationships with ground ambulance and helipad for helicopter ambulance service can bring patients to the main campus in Foley.

“The addition of the FED completes another step in the City’s Vision 2025 for Sustainability, which includes providing leading-edge healthcare opportunities for residents and visitors,” said Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft.

Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon also added, “Coupled with our city ambulance service, the new Freestanding ER provides an outstanding benefit to our community. Now when a medical call comes in, hopefully we’ll be at the individual’s door in 3 to 4 minutes with a paramedic and if it is an emergency, we’ll be at the ER 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.”

Patients will receive the same quality care they have come to expect at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center. “When people experience an emergency, they’re looking for efficient and convenient quality care,” said Aaron Ward, Director of FED. “By bringing this new ER to the area, we’re able to meet the community’s growing need with the same high level of care that we offer at our main hospital.”

In addition to the opening of the Freestanding Emergency Department, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center announced in January 2021 a $186-million project to expand and modernize the hospital after receiving certificate of need approval from the Alabama State Health Planning and Development Agency. Plans of the expansion at the main campus include a 133,433-square-foot, four-story patient tower with a new surgical department on the first floor with a new dedicated outpatient entrance.

For more information on the Freestanding Emergency Department, visit SouthBaldwinED.com. To stay updated on the upcoming expansion, visit SouthBaldwinRMC.com.

Back