Iowa
Free-standing emergency rooms are popping up across eastern Iowa – what does this mean for patients?
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – With both Mercy Medical Center and Unity Point Health – St. Luke’s in downtown Cedar Rapids, it can be a struggle for anyone outside the metro area to access emergency medical care.
But both hospitals are looking to change this.
”If you live in Marion, sometimes it’s 25 minutes to get downtown, so we’re bringing in emergency care closer to their homes.” said Mercy Medical Center Director Dr. Matthew Aucutt.
In August of 2020, Mercy Cedar Rapids opened Iowa’s first free-standing emergency room in Hiawatha.
Now, they’re building another one in Marion.
One physician says these centers help meet a growing demand at their main campuses.
“In our population, people are getting sicker and sicker. The baby boomer generation is getting older and have more emergent medical problems. And so, we’re going to see increased ER volumes across the country over time.” said Aucutt.
Both locations will function identically to an ER, but they can’t admit anyone.
But the cost of transporting patients to the hospital for admission is covered by the hospital.
Doctor Aucutt says he hopes this will be the go-to resource for people who need more than urgent care and don’t want to travel downtown.
“With a sicker population, urgent care just doesn’t meet the needs of those patients. And urgent cares aren’t open 24/7.. We can take care of them and provide the care that they need so they don’t need to get admitted.” he explained.
Though, a study out of Texas, which has 266 free-standing emergency rooms, shows that patients struggle to determine whether urgent care or free-standing E-Rs would meet their needs better.
This can often lead to patients paying more for emergency care when they could have gotten the same care for cheaper at an urgent care.
But Aucutt says most patients know where to go.
“Patients have learned over time in our community what level of service they can get at urgent care versus the emergency departments, and that’s up to them.” he said.
But with only 2 open free-standing ERs (and two more on the way), it’s unclear whether patients will actually understand which centers offer which services… and if their wallets will suffer because of it.
Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.
One of the top Iowa high school football prospects in the state has made his college decision official.
Iowa City Regina High School senior-to-be Tate Wallace has announced he has verbally committed to the University of Minnesota in the Big Ten Conference. Wallace picked the Golden Gophers and head coach PJ Fleck over a finalists Notre Dame, Nebraska, Arizona, Arizona State and Wisconsin.
Wallace narrowed down his list of schools to six at the end of April before making his final decision.
Iowa City Regina Football Standout Tate Wallace Ranked As No. 2 Overall Prospect In Iowa High School Football
The 6-foot-2, 226-pound linebacker is considered the No. 2 overall prospect in the state of Iowa for high school football, and is the No. 21 linebacker in the Class of 2027, according to 247Sports.
In the 247Sports Composite rankings, Wallace is No. 2 in Iowa high school football, No. 29 at linebacker and No. 359 for the Class of 2027.
Along With Minnesota, Tate Wallace Currently Holds Offers From Schools Such As Arizona, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Iowa State
Wallace currently holds 16 total offers including from the previously mentioned Minnesota, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Arizona, Arizona State, Wisconsin, Iowa State, Kansas State, Purdue, Tennessee, West Virginia, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio), Toledo, UNLV, North Dakota and North Dakota State.
As a junior, Wallace registered almost 50 tackles on defense, with 29 of them being counted as solo stops. He had 18 tackles for loss, 8.5 quarterback sacks and forced two fumbles, as Iowa City Regina advanced to the state championship game of the Iowa High School Athletic Association State Football Championships.
Future Minnesota Golden Gopher Has Been Key Two-Way Starter For Regals
Wallace also hauled in 40 passes for 611 yards with 10 receiving touchdowns on offense for the Regals. As a two-way player for Iowa City Regina during his sophomore season, Wallace had 27.5 tackles, including 16 solo stops, four tackles for loss and a quarterback sack, adding 51 receptions for 752 yards and eight touchdowns.
Back in March, Wallace announced seven spring visits to Notre Dame, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, Kansas State and Arizona State. He also visited Tennessee this past fall, taking in an SEC contest with the Volunteers.
Along with his success on the football field, Wallace helped lead the Regals to the Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys State Basketball Tournament this past winter. He earned High School on SI all-state honors in the process.
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IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) — Volunteers broke ground Saturday for Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity’s 16th Woman Build, honoring a retired University of Iowa nursing professor.
Liz Swanson, a retired nursing professor, was chosen as this year’s honoree for her decades of impact. The Women Build program focuses on including women in every step of home construction.
While the home is built in Swanson’s honor, it will go to a fellow nurse and mother of three. The family applied through the affordable housing program.
Swanson said she’s proud to be part of a project that directly connects to her nursing legacy.
“It’s very special to have the unique opportunity to help the nurse who is working nights,” Swanson said.
Swanson said stable housing gives families the security to plan for the future.
“It means security for families. We talked briefly to the children and they said, ‘we’re gonna have our own bedroom,’” Swanson said.
Volunteers are set to begin work on the home in August. Those interested in volunteering can find more information here.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
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