Whitfield Regional Hospital expands emergency department

Whitfield Regional Hospital recently celebrated the opening of its newly expanded emergency room.

Shelley S. Wood, director of marketing and public relations, said the 2,400-square-foot expansion also included a complete renovation of the whole department. It not only added a new, welcoming waiting area for patients and families, but it also expanded the number of rooms available for ER patients and added better access for ambulances, which will lead to an improvement in service.

“We have added three fast-track rooms so that patients can be seen, treated and issued prescriptions in a timely manner,” Wood said. “Also, we now have two ambulance bays compared to just one that we previously had, and patients from ambulances now go straight into the ER instead of coming through the waiting area.”

Level III trauma

Genelle Ingram, manager of the emergency department, said Whitfield has been classified as a Level III trauma center, which means they can see most any type of trauma except neurology. Even then, she said a UAB Health System neurologist can meet with them virtually.

“We offer a telehealth visit with a neurologist that is basically just like being with them in person,” Ingram said. “The nurse can move the camera around and can help conduct tests that they would do in person. They can make a diagnosis and determine whether they need to be transferred to UAB Hospital.”

While an official ribbon cutting was held in May, Woods said the new ER has been open since the fall of 2023. The facility, which now occupies about 15,000 square feet, also includes a three-bed trauma unit, a private emergency delivery room and a room designed to treat psychiatric patients.

“Our goal is to provide the best service possible to our community,” Woods said. “This newly expanded emergency room will help us continue to do that for Demopolis and Marengo County.”

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