Profiling Freestanding Emergency Departments at UHS2022-04-01T15:25:03+00:00
busy medical facility

Profiling Freestanding Emergency Departments at UHS

In 2015, UHS embarked on a new strategy to expand its ambulatory footprint in the South Texas Health System market with the opening of the Weslaco and Mission Freestanding Emergency Departments (FEDs). The FEDs are viewed as an extension of the hospital ER and undergo the same state inspections and Joint Commission survey as the hospital. They are staffed by a physician 24/7 and always have two RN’s, a radiology tech, a registration individual and usually a lab tech on-site. Later in 2015 a third site opened in Laredo and in 2016 a fourth site opened in Amarillo. By the end of 2020, UHS had 17 FEDs affiliated with 9 of our hospitals, across three states.

In 2021, we expanded our network of FEDs with new locations opened or under construction. During the year, we handled over 250,000 ER visits and 17,000 transfers to UHS hospitals. Real estate has been acquired to construct a total of five new FEDs in key markets in Florida, Nevada and D.C. By the end of 2022, we expect to have 25 FEDs open and operating.

The FED program also focuses on quality. As of today, there are 11 sites certified for Chest Pain, three sites certified as Stroke Ready, and one site certified for Geriatric Care.

New Freestanding Emergency Department

ER at Valley Vista — An extension of Centennial Hills Hospital

ER at Valley Vista