Cullman Regional is taking steps to build North Alabama’s first freestanding emergency department at Hartselle Health Park, an outpatient facility opened by the hospital in 2021. The facility had nearly 14,000 patient visits since opening its urgent care clinic, diagnostic imaging center and two physician clinics. The new freestanding emergency department will be constructed where the urgent care clinic is currently located. Urgent care services will relocate to a different area in the same building.

“Freestanding emergency departments are especially important for communities without a hospital,” said Bill Smith, MD, chief medical officer at Cullman Regional. “This project means Hartselle residents will not have to leave their community for life-saving emergency services.”

The Hartselle Health Park ER will operate 24/7 and will be staffed by board certified emergency medicine physicians. It will offer on-site imaging including MRI and CT, lab capabilities and pharmacy services. The facility will also be equipped with an ambulance bay and a helipad.

Cullman Regional submitted a Letter of Intent to Alabama’s Certificate of Need Board on October 31, and will begin construction once the CON application is approved, which may take several months.