The $27 million dollar facility was two years in the making.
The concept of freestanding emergency departments is the latest trend in healthcare according to Carolyn Knaup, Vice President of Ambulatory Services for WakeMed. "I have had visits from pp from all over the country looking at this concept," said Carolyn Knaup, Vice President of ambulatory services for WakeMed. The Apex facility will have 12 private treatment beds and 2 triage rooms. There is also a helipad so patients can be airlifted to other facilities if needed.
While freestanding emergency departments aren't as extensive as hospitals, they do have full services for patients. "We have a full service laboratory to support emergency department patients and outpatient business," said Knaup. "We also have a full imaging dept also known as radiology. We have a CT scanner, 2 radiology rooms, thoroscopy rooms, 2 mammo suites, bone density and ultra sound. So, it's pretty much full service," added Knaup.
Emergency departments shouldn't be confused with urgent care facilities. Knaup says the biggest difference is in the training of emergency doctors saying, "All of our physicians are board certified emergency room physicians. Some are double boarded in adults and pediatrics. That group of physicians rotates between all of our emergency departments."
WakeMed's Apex Healthplex opens for patients beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, February 4th. It will be open 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
