Northern Nevada Medical Center broke ground yesterday for the first freestanding emergency department (FED) in northern Nevada. Located on North West McCarran, the facility is planning to open this time next year.
The FED will have all the certifications and capabilities as a standard emergency department but will not be connected to a larger hospital. It will also be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Alan Olive, a physician and CEO of Northern Nevada Medical Center, spoke about the land where the department will be constructed. The large barren plot currently has poor drainage where massive puddles and mud exist. This will be fixed during construction so that water will flow to a nearby gully.
Olive also said that Northern Nevada Medical Center was one of only seven hospitals in the county to receive a safety across the board award.
Reno City Councilmember Neoma Jardon read a proclamation by Reno Mayor Hillary Shieve and discussed the importance of having this emergency facility.
The FED is located in one of Reno’s growing population centers, and one of the goals of this facility is to reduce emergency room wait times for patients who do not require robust services offered at a full-service hospital.
Similarly to a hospital emergency room, the FED will treat a variety of emergency medical needs, including chest pain, broken bones, minor lacerations, flu, and other ailments.
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