Sierra Medical Center Breaks Ground on ER at Damonte Ranch

Sierra Medical Center (SMC) is expanding its footprint in South Reno to meet the demand for accessible 24/7 healthcare. The hospital held a groundbreaking today for the System’s third freestanding emergency department (FED) in the region. The ER at Damonte Ranch will be located at 1041 Steamboat Parkway next to Safeway.

“We anticipate continued growth in the South Reno area and families are seeking various levels of care closer to home,” said Alan Olive, Chief Executive Officer of Sierra Medical Center. “As a local network of care, it is important to provide services in neighborhood settings, where residents have efficient, hospital-quality access for life’s emergencies.”

The ER at Damonte Ranch will be the third freestanding emergency medical care center introduced by Northern Nevada Health System to the market. The ER at McCarran NW off Mae Anne and North McCarran was the first to open in 2019, and the ER at Spanish Springs off Pyramid Way is projected to open in early 2023.

“The new facility will provide care from board-certified physicians and ER-trained nurses in the same manner of a traditional emergency room,” said Travis Anderson, MD, Director of Emergency Medicine at Northern Nevada Health System. “We have seen great success at our first FED location and anticipate similar results at both of our developing facilities.”

Similar to a hospital emergency department, the FED will operate 24/7 and will treat a variety of emergency medical needs for pediatric and adult patients including chest pain, broken bones, minor lacerations, asthma, allergic reactions, flu and other ailments. The facility will be staffed with physicians and nurses, as well as lab and imaging techs. If a patient requires a higher level of care, SMC will work with local and rural EMS agencies to transport patients to an appropriate hospital or care facility, at no charge to the patient.

The ER at Damonte Ranch will feature multiple treatment rooms, including fast-track exam rooms designed to efficiently triage low severity patients. The FED will also offer imaging services including CT, X-ray and ultrasound and 24/7 lab draws.