There is currently no hospital in Dade County: ambulances always transport patients outside the county. But Parkridge Health System has big plans to bring an emergency room ER to Trenton. This $18 million project seeks to prevent logistical issues as well as the loss of life.
The two major hospitals nearby are CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital in Catoosa County and Erlanger Hospital in Hamilton County. They are approximately 27 minutes (13 miles) and 26 minutes (10 miles) away from Covenant College, respectively.
This new hospital would be about 17 minutes (11 miles) away. It’s planned to be located by the intersection of Highway 11 and State Route 136 in the heart of downtown Trenton.
No construction has begun yet. An approved Certification of Need is required first. Officials hope that approval from the Georgia Department of Community Health will come in the next month. If approved, this new freestanding ER will have 11 treatment rooms and around-the-clock care for all ages. This would be the closest option for the 16,000-plus residents of Dade County and others nearby to receive medical support.
Many people online have already expressed excitement about this new project that would provide not only more jobs but faster access to help in life-threatening situations. The time from when 911 is called to when the patient is in a hospital bed can easily be over 50 minutes for those living on Lookout Mountain — even with lights and sirens being used by first responders.
This transport delay gives Emergency Medical Service EMS personnel less time to restock, write reports, clean equipment, and be back-in- service to respond to other 911 calls. Mutual aid outside of the county sometimes has to be called if Dade EMS is busy transporting a patient, which means more strain on the system and more waiting by those who need help.
There have already been over half a dozen ambulance calls at Covenant College this semester, in addition to all the people who have gone to the hospital in their own car or a friend’s vehicle.
This ER may alleviate some of the stress and risk surrounding medical emergencies for those in Dade County, including the students, faculty, and staff of Covenant College.