Emergency Department uses new process allowing Indian Rock Rapid Care to begin new hours

With the completion of Adventist Health Sonora’s Emergency Department remodel and success with rapid medical evaluation processes, Indian Rock Rapid Care is returning to its previous hours of operation, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, beginning Oct. 6, 2019.

During the Emergency Department remodel and while staff introduced new processes, Indian Rock Rapid Care offered extended hours until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, so that they could accommodate and care for more patients. With rapid medical evaluation in place, the Emergency Department has capacity to provide efficient, high-quality care for patients needing treatment for both serious and minor illness or injury.

Every patient who checks in to the Emergency Department is first evaluated by a triage nurse. The nurse quickly determines the severity of their condition. Using the new rapid medical evaluation process, patients with less critical concerns, such as flu symptoms or a sprained ankle, can receive care in a special rapid treatment area. Those with more serious conditions, such as chest pain that could indicate a heart attack, are seen in the main Emergency Department.

This process has helped to decrease wait times, with most people seeing an emergency provider in less than 25 minutes. Both of Adventist Health Sonora’s Rapid Care clinics will soon use a similar triage process so if a patient’s condition is a serious emergency, Rapid Care staff will be able to direct the patient to the Emergency Department for tests and treatments right away.

Adventist Health Sonora provides emergency care, 24 hours a day in the Emergency Department at the main hospital campus, located at 1000 Greenley Road in Sonora. Indian Rock Rapid Care, located at 14540 Mono Way in Sonora, and Angels Camp Rapid Care, located at 23 North Main Street in Angels Camp, are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days per week.