UofL Health opening 'fast track' in emergency room at Bullitt County hospital

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A local hospital is helping patients take a fast-track through the emergency room.

UofL Health South Hospital in Bullitt County opened its new fast track area in the ER on Oct. 3. It will allow dedicated providers and staff to help patients who do not require extensive testing and procedures.

"With the new ER construction, we are now able to triage and route patients more appropriately," Dorie Shelburne, CEO of UofL Health – South Hospital, said in a news release. "For patients who need care, but their conditions are non-life threatening and less acute, we will be able to 'fast track' the service and treatment they need and then discharge them. They should not have to experience longer wait times that may be caused when being treated alongside more sick and critically ill patients."

Patients will get treatment and go on their way faster. The hospital is undergoing major expansion that includes 40 new inpatient beds.

"We are staffing it to where we'll have nurses that will come in that will be in fast-track," added Dale Charles, UofL Health South Director of EMS. "We also will have an MD or mid-level nurse practitioner provider there with their own ER technician."

Bullitt County residents have around a 20-minute drive to the nearest hospital with emergency services. The closest hospitals include Baptist Health Hardin, Norton Audubon and UofL Health Jewish Hospital.

UofL Health South Hospital, just off the Brooks exit in Bullitt County, will provide a necessary resource for people in the area.

"Bullitt County EMS spends the majority of their time outside of the Bullitt County area because they're in ERs with patients seeking care in the surrounding counties," said Shelburne.

There's also a new entrance and new patient registration and lobby. South Hospital is expected to fully open by next spring.

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