Sarasota Memorial Expands Emergency Care Into Lakewood Ranch

SARASOTA, FL — Sarasota Memorial Health Care System expanded its life-saving emergency care in rapidly growing communities in Lakewood Ranch and northeast Sarasota County.

The new 15,000-square-foot Sarasota Memorial Emergency Room at Lakewood Ranch opened Tuesday at noon at 7250 University Parkway.

It’s expected to serve as many as 150 patients a day, according to a news release from the health care system.

The 21-room freestanding ER facility is centrally located about 3 miles east of Interstate 75 near Lorraine Road. It is Sarasota Memorial’s fourth emergency care center and second freestanding emergency facility not attached to a hospital campus.

In addition to its two hospital-based emergency rooms (at SMH-Sarasota and SMH-Venice), SMH also provides 24/7 care at a freestanding emergency room it opened in North Port more than 10 years ago.

Like all of Sarasota Memorial’s emergency care centers, the Lakewood Ranch facility will be staffed 24/7 by experienced, board-certified emergency medicine physicians, emergency care nurses, respiratory therapists and other highly trained clinicians.

“In emergency situations, proximity and immediate access to high-quality emergency care is critical,” Dr. Reuben Holland, medical director of Sarasota Memorial’s emergency care services, said. “By opening freestanding ERs and placing them in densely populated areas, many more people can receive emergency care in their own neighborhoods. This is not just more convenient for patients. It also strengthens clinical outcomes and reduces congestion and wait-times at hospital-based ERs.”

The emergency room at Lakewood Ranch will be fully equipped with walk-in and ambulance entrances, 21 treatment rooms, including two triage bays, and resuscitation and specialty rooms for pediatric, behavioral health, and other patients requiring advanced equipment and care.

The team is equipped to manage most medical emergencies with the ability to seamlessly transfer patients to SMH’s trauma center if surgical or additional care is needed, the news release said.

The facility has five fast-track bays, a full-service laboratory, x-ray, ultrasound, and CT and MRI scanners for more advanced imaging studies.

The on-site diagnostic services also are available for community members — with or without an appointment — for those who want to use the facility for outpatient lab work or imaging scans ordered by their care provider.