New emergency room looks to reduce patient wait times in San Antonio's South Texas Medical Center

More than 1,600 patients needing emergency care go to St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital monthly, including labor and delivery patients, cardiovascular patients and an increasing number of stroke patients, the release states.

The ER will help reduce patient wait times and advance stroke patient treatment in association with the hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Center, meeting the increasing demand for immediate and outstanding emergency care in the medical center area, the release states.

St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital CEO Vicki Gulczewski said the old emergency department space was difficult for both EMS and patients to access, and the new space has a dedicated lane that allows EMS and private vehicles direct access for dropping patients off.

"It's great to have the new ER that allows for easy and quick access for EMS, especially for patients with high acuities, such as stroke, where time really matters," Dr. Fadi Al-Saiegh, a doctor specializing in neurosurgery with the Baptist Health System, told Community Impact.

What they’re saying

Gulczewski said they are proud to make improvements that benefit those in need of emergency care.

“Our patients deserve immediate care close to home in a modern, safe and high-quality environment. We are meeting that need,” Gulczewski said in the release.

C.J. Winkler, deputy medical director for San Antonio’s Fire Department, said the new ER will “immensely improve” access to emergency care in the city.

“We are grateful to the leadership of St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital for bringing this outstanding new facility to our city’s patients, medical staff and first responders,” Winkler said in the release.