Supreme Court clears Brookwood to begin construction on freestanding ER
Right now, the U.S. 280 corridor is void of emergency medical care, but by the end of 2015 the public could have options.
On Friday, Oct. 11, Brookwood Medical Center was cleared to proceed with its plans to construct a freestanding emergency medical department (FED) at the intersection of Alabama Highway 119 and U.S. 280 East. According to Stephen Preston, vice president of external affairs at Brookwood, the Alabama Supreme Court denied a petition by Trinity Medical to overturn Brookwood’s Certificate of Need (CON) for the freestanding ER.
This marked the third victory in court for the facility over opposition from Trinity. Since receiving its CON in 2010, Preston two lower courts have ruled in favor of Brookwood. The Supreme Court chose to uphold those rulings.
“That exhausts [Trinity Medical’s] legal challenges,” Preston said. “It means we’re free and clear, and we’re moving forward as soon as possible.”
Preston said Brookwood’s freestanding ER will be a 19,600-square-foot facility with 12 exam rooms and would cost approximately $19 million. The facility will offer 24‐hour care and laboratory services, along with pharmacy and diagnostic services. According to a previous release, the freestanding ER is proposed to have triage protocols in place for stabilization and immediate transfer of patients requiring care from existing acute care hospitals in the Birmingham area. A helipad would also be available for emergency air transfer.
Preston said Brookwood’s FED would offer the public the same care and service found in emergency facilities attached to hospitals.
“There are rules in place for these facilities through the Department of Public Health,” Preston said. “They set a very high bar for the level of care to be provided at freestanding ERs.”
Brookwood intends to break ground as soon as it can, and the facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2014.
Earlier this year, Trinity Medical was also cleared to construct a hospital on U.S. 280. Approved relocate from its facility on Montclair Road to the unfinished HealthSouth Corp. building in the Cahaba Center at Grandview, Trinity anticipates the facility, which will be named Grandview Medical Center, will be operational around the close of 2015.
Trinity won a four-year court battle with Brookwood and St. Vincent’s Hospital regarding its CON for the facility.
“Though we are disappointed that a broader state health planning discussion about the impact of FEDs will not take place, we respect the court's decision and appreciate their consideration of our request,” Trinity Medical Center CEO Keith Granger said in a statement.