At times, it can feel easy to navigate our physical health. But sometimes, we can feel like we don't know where to turn. Whether you’ve been injured while seeking adventure or experienced an illness with severe symptoms, you’ve likely wondered where you should go. Knowing where to seek emergency medical attention can make all the difference in getting proper care.
Did you know that there are different types of ERs? Onsite ERs are those connected to a hospital. Offsite, or freestanding ERs, stand independently and operate from an isolated location.
While both ERs provide emergency care, there are some differences between them. Keep reading to learn the differences and benefits. While we hope you’ll never have to go to the ER, it’s good to be prepared should the need arise.
What Is an Onsite ER?
An onsite ER, or a hospital-based ER, is an emergency room department staffed by medical professionals trained to care for life-threatening conditions. These ERs are physically connected to a hospital location and offer leading-edge technologies and treatments. If you have an emergency requiring surgery or extensive intervention, full-service, onsite emergency rooms are where you should go.
Onsite emergency rooms offer access to specialists and advanced imaging, like MRIs, and can provide the expertise and support required to treat patients at high and ICU levels of care.
Onsite ERs are also more traditional and widely known, and many patients tend to visit their local onsite ER for most emergencies. However, know that our hospital-based ERs follow a prioritization process with our patients known as triage. This process prioritizes patients who face life-threatening or critical conditions. Sometimes, patients who arrive after you in the ER may get treatment before you to ensure they get the immediate, specialized care they need.
What Is an Offsite or Freestanding ER?
When you think of an emergency room, you might immediately picture a hospital. However, our freestanding ERs, also referred to as mini ERs, are structurally separate from our hospitals as standalone buildings. They’re designed to offer the same expert care as our hospital-based emergency rooms, but with added benefits like pediatric emergency care, locations closer to home, convenient parking and shorter wait times. When the unexpected happens, our freestanding ERs are ready to serve you and your family at a moment’s notice.
Although our freestanding emergency rooms aren’t physically connected to our hospitals, they’re connected to our AdventHealth network. Their services and care are billed at hospital emergency department rates. Be comforted knowing you’ll receive the same high-quality care you need.
Benefits of Freestanding ERs
We understand that seamless and coordinated care matters in an emergency. That’s why each of our facilities is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to give our patients quick and accurate treatment and answers on their paths to recovery. Our freestanding ERs enhance our ability to provide lifesaving care quickly and efficiently by aspiring to provide shorter wait times than traditional ERs in a hospital setting. This allows us to meet the growing health care needs of our communities.
Our freestanding emergency rooms are open 24/7 and are staffed with expert teams of emergency physicians and highly trained providers who compassionately and effectively treat your medical needs. We’re delighted to have board-certified ER physicians, critical care nurses, chest pain experts and stroke specialists staffed at our facilities to meet your needs while keeping your whole health in mind.
When you need emergency care for your little ones, you can trust they’ll be in great hands with us. Each of our freestanding ERs is backed by the nationally recognized AdventHealth for Children. We take the extra steps to ease the stress of an ER visit and ease your mind as a parent or guardian. We offer dedicated pediatric rooms designed to be extra comforting for kids.
Your Ever-Present Health Partner
We know you may feel shaken and uncertain when an emergency arises, but we’re here to provide solid support. Our state-of-the-art onsite and freestanding emergency rooms provide comprehensive and accurate results, giving you access to advanced care in a safe environment with the compassionate approach you deserve.
Visit us here to learn more about our emergency room care, or find a location near you. When minutes matter, you can count on our emergency care teams to be ready with the medical expertise and compassion you need.
