FROM STAFF REPORTS

HOOVER—Kelly Riether’s son Sterling, a 21-year-old civil engineering student at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, was set to enjoy his holiday break at home in Chelsea when a throbbing ache started in his abdomen.

As the pain intensified on the morning of Dec. 21, Kelly realized her son needed urgent medical attention. She also realized that there was a new healthcare option in Shelby County—Brookwood Medical Center’s freestanding emergency department, located at the intersection of U.S. 280 and Alabama 119.

Kelly and Sterling arrived at the facility just minutes later, around 8:30 a.m. Kelly was relieved to see sterling receive immediate treatment from FED staff, who promptly managed his escalating pain.

After a CT scan, Sterling was diagnosed with appendicitis, then transported by an on-site ambulance to Brookwood’s main campus.

“It was the nicest ED experience I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a few,” Kelly said.

When Sterling arrived at the main Brookwood campus around noon, his paperwork had already been transmitted from the FED.

“It was seamless,” Kelly said.

Sterling was in surgery to remove his inflamed appendix by 2:30 p.m. that day. He was able to return home soon after for what turned out to be a quick recovery.

Since opening on U.S. 280 on Nov. 30, 2015, the Brookwood FED has treated a wide range of cases.

An 86-year-old man was brought to the FED for breathing difficulties. He was tested and diagnosed with blockages in his heart. He was placed on a bilevel positive airway pressure machine to assist his breathing and allow him to be transported to the main Brookwood campus for open-heart surgery.

A two-year-old boy was rushed to the FED after hitting his head. A CT scan indicated a depressed minor skull fracture. He was stabilized and transferred to a pediatric hospital for treatment.

A 54-year-old man visited the FED after feeling ill. An examination revealed a complete blockage in one of his main heart vessels. The FED team arranged for Brookwood’s catheterization lab to see him promptly where he received a lifesaving stent.

“Our freestanding FED is living up to our goals of providing immediate access to a consistent level of high-quality medical care when time is of the essence,” Chuck Stark, CEO of Brookwood Medical Center, wrote in a news release. “The facility is staffed by Brookwood’s experienced FED team and boasts a robust level of capabilities to deliver on its mission.”

The FED is staffed by board-certified emergency physicians and experienced registered nurses. Specialty physicians are also available around the clock.