SAN ANTONIO – A new concept in emergency room care began Thursday morning with the opening of the Baptist Emergency Hospital at Thousand Oaks and Highway 281.
The hospital will be able to handle anything from, "an insect bite to a life-threatening emergency," said Adolfo Carrasco, CEO of the new hospital.
The idea behind the hospital is to treat patients in an average time of an hour. That means cutting out many of the steps patients go through at the traditional emergency room.
"We hope to get the patient from the front desk directly back to be triaged in the room so we we'll have the nurse the doctor the technician all at the same time,"said Dr. Brent Wyatt, the medical director at the hospital.
There are eight emergency rooms with unique features. There is more space to operate. The hand washing sink is set sideways so the doctor or nurse can wash up and keep an eye on the patient. There is also a portable podium that holds equipment like oxygen, air, and suction.
"This gives us the ability to really care for the people better more safely more efficiently more comfortably for the patient," Wyatt said.
The facility also has a ct scan, X-ray room, lab and pharmacy.
The hospital can also accommodate patients that need to stay over night. They have two private rooms and four semi-private, mostly so family can stay with a patient if need be.
This is the first of five emergency hospitals the Baptist system has planned for San Antonio