Administrative Law Judge Recommends Approval for Freestanding Emergency Room in North Shelby County

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Administrative law judge James E. Wilson has recommended approval for Brookwood Medical Center to proceed with building its proposed freestanding emergency room at the intersection of Highway 119 and U.S. Highway 280 East.

After reviewing more than 2,000 pages of testimony given by nearly 20 witnesses over the course of two weeks, Judge Wilson concluded that Brookwood's freestanding emergency room would "improve ER services and save lives" and "improve the care and quality of outcomes for heart attack victims and save lives."

"We are delighted that Judge Wilson saw the merits of the case and the benefits of our emergency room," Brookwood CEO Garry Gause said. "This project has received tremendous support throughout the communities we serve. Our proposal presents a clear, cost-effective solution to a critical health care problem. Brookwood serves as a primary provider of health care services to Shelby County residents, and we look forward to continuing to provide the high quality care people have come to expect from our hospital."

The first of its kind in Alabama, Brookwood's $19 million freestanding emergency room will provide hospital-level emergency services for children and adults. The 19,598-square-foot facility will provide around-the-clock-care by board-certified emergency medicine physicians with specialty physicians available 24 hours a day.  It will also participate in the Birmingham Regional EMS System (BREMSS) Trauma Net for EMS protocols.  

The facility will have 24-hour fully staffed laboratory services, along with pharmacy and diagnostic services, including CT, MRI, X-ray and ultrasound.  Triage protocols will be in place for stabilization and immediate transfer of patients requiring care from existing acute care hospitals in the Birmingham area. A helipad will be available for emergency air transfer.

To read Judge Wilson's recommendation in its entirety or to learn more about Brookwood's plans, visit www.280ERNow.com.

About Brookwood Medical Center

Founded in 1973, Brookwood Medical Center is a 602-bed full service hospital located at 2010 Brookwood Medical Center Dr. Accredited by The Joint Commission, the hospital provides award-winning care in the areas of women's services, cardiovascular medicine and surgery, cancer, orthopedics, neurology and neurosurgery, mental  health, emergency services and more. Other affiliated services and facilities include the Brookwood Diagnostic Center, Women's Diagnostic Center, Medplex Surgery Center, the Brookwood Advanced Wound Care Center and the Brookwood Primary Care Network. For more information, visit www.bwmc.com.

SOURCE Brookwood Medical Center