Freestanding emergency room opens in Lakewood Ranch

Sarasota Memorial opened a new 15,000-square-foot emergency room in Lakewood Ranch Jan. 7. 

The full-service ER is located at 7250 University Parkway and is open 24 hours a day. 

“In emergency situations, proximity and immediate access to high-quality emergency care is critical,” Reuben Holland, MD, medical director of Sarasota Memorial’s emergency care services, said in a press release. “By opening freestanding ERs and placing them in densely populated areas, many more people can receive emergency care in their own neighborhoods.”

Holland added that freestanding facilities strengthen clinical outcomes and reduce waiting times at the ERs located in hospitals. 

The new ER in Lakewood Ranch is anticipated to serve up to 150 patients a day. 

The ER features 21 treatment rooms, a full-service laboratory and two entrances for both a walk-ins and ambulances. Onsite diagnostic services are available with or without an appointment. 

The release states that the ER can manage “most medical emergencies with the ability to seamlessly transfer patients to SMH’s trauma center if surgical or additional care is needed.”