USA to Construct Free-Standing Emergency Department in West Mobile

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Posted on May 19, 2020

Marketing and Communications

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Looking to increase access to specialized healthcare and emergency services, USA Health is building a free-standing emergency department in west Mobile. The facility will be located on property bounded by Hillcrest and Old Shell roads, making it more convenient for people in west Mobile to receive advanced care.

“When this facility is completed, the people who live in west Mobile will have easier access to some of the most advanced care in our region,” said John Marymont, M.D., MBA, University of South Alabama vice president for medical affairs and dean of the USA College of Medicine. “Patients will be able to come to a state-of-the-art facility with a full complement of imaging services and be seen by board-certified practitioners.”

Free-standing emergency departments are a relatively new concept in Alabama with only a few being in operation, including one in Daphne, one in Saraland and locations around Birmingham. USA Health has been developing its plans for the facility since receiving state approval through the Certificate of Need process in 2018.

USA Health anticipates up to 15,000 patient visits per year at the location, which will house significant imaging capabilities including a CT scanner, an MRI, X-ray and ultrasound. Additionally, a helipad, as required for all free-standing emergency departments, will be located at the facility, with likely use being to take patients from the location to other facilities in rare situations.

“Over the past several years, the growth in the western portion of Mobile has been significant,” said Owen Bailey, chief executive officer of USA Health and senior associate vice president for medical affairs for the USA College of Medicine. “This facility will enable people to have their emergency healthcare needs met in a nearby and convenient location that is part of the region’s only academic health system dedicated to helping people lead longer, better lives.”

The new facility also will help in the training of future generations of healthcare providers. USA this year started an emergency medicine residency program to increase the number of physicians specifically trained for emergency medicine. In addition to the medical school, USA has introductory and advanced educational programs in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, radiological services, and speech pathology and audiology.

“Being located adjacent to the university campus will enhance the convenience of our healthcare learners and provide them with an additional training site,” Marymont said.

The site has been cleared, and construction is scheduled to begin in late summer or early fall, with completion approximately a year later.

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