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Stevenson Memorial Hospital launches Emergency Department Rapid Assessment Zone

April 29, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Stevenson Memorial Hospital has announced the official launch of its new Rapid Assessment Zone (RAZ) in the Emergency Department.

The RAZ is a designated area within the emergency department designed to reduce wait times for patients with minor ailments or less critical needs.

The hospital has evaluated the effectiveness of the RAZ approach over the past several weeks and is excited to launch it full-time.

The RAZ will operate in the emergency department from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.

“We are offering the Rapid Assessment Zone to expedite care for patients with minor ailments, so that they can receive the care they need and return home sooner,” said Dr. Oswaldo Ramirez, chief of the emergency department. “We have created the RAZ for our community to access safe, high-quality care, quickly and efficiently.”

The RAZ is an area in the emergency department designed to assess and treat patients with less critical conditions, such as sprains, cough and cold, sore throat and upper respiratory needs, cuts requiring stitches, and earache/infection.

Emergency department patients will continue to check in with Triage upon arrival, where a member of the hospital’s care team will assess eligibility for the RAZ.

“It may be required of patients to return to the waiting area after being seen and treated if awaiting test results,” explained Dr. Ramirez. “This approach allows us to continue seeing other patients in a timely manner and ensures that care is delivered as efficiently as possible, while supporting our commitment to providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”

This initiative supports SMH’s goals of meeting the needs of the growing community and enhancing the overall patient experience in the emergency department.

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