The New Emergency Department
In January 2008, DeSoto Memorial Hospital opened it’s new Emergency Department, designed to meet the growing emergency health care needs of the community. Prior to the new facility, DeSoto Memorial was seeing 18,000 patients per year in a facility designed for 12,000 visits.
Increased Capacity
The new facility is more than twice the size of the old facility and has 19 beds- compared to 8 in the old facility- including 3 additional beds for trauma and major resuscitation. It has a large ambulance bay; a larger, better-equipped resuscitation area; an operating room directly adjacent to the Emergency Department; and a designated decontamination area for situations involving hazardous materials.
Family Centered Care
The Emergency Department provides a family-centered environment with a larger waiting area and increased privacy for patients and families. All of the Emergency Department’s internal entrances are secure- all employees use a pass card to enter and visitors must be buzzed in. This enhances privacy and security for patients and staff.
Specialized Treatment Areas
The new facility features specialized rooms dedicated to particular specialties including obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry.
Advanced Technology
The Emergency department offers advanced imaging technology that allows the emergency physician to view x-rays and cat scans immediately after the image is taken on the computerized system. This equipment allows the physicians to provide faster, more precise diagnosis for Emergency Department patients.
Improved Registration
Patients also benefit from an enhanced registration process. Patients who are treated in the Emergency Department are admitted directly into a room, and registration is completed at bedside. The bedside registration, combined with a new electronic medical record system, helps to expedite patient care in the Emergency Department.
A Dedicated Health Care Team
Caring for patients in the Emergency Department involves collaboration among many different types of health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians/ paramedics, respiratory therapists, case managers, and others. They are dedicated to providing the best possible care for our patients.
Florida Poison Information Center
DeSoto Memorial Hospital partners with the Florida Poison Information Center, which provides vital poison and health care information to residents of Florida. The center also conducts poison education and prevention programs. Anyone needing information can call the Florida Poison Information Center at 1-800-222-1222 you can visit their web-site at www.fpicn.org.Emergency Department Contact Information
For Patients, Family Members, and Visitors: (863) 494-3535
For Questions about your Bill: (863) 494-8420
For Questions/ Comments about your Care
Karen Albritton -Taylor- Director of Emergency Services: (863) 491-4394
To Reach the Poison Center:
Florida Poison Information Center: (800) 222-1222
