William Newton Hospital Expands Fast Track Hours Following Record Year for Patient Visits

Feb 18, 2025

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet
• Pin it
• Share on LinkedIn

William Newton Hospital is pleased to announce expanded hours for its Fast Track minor emergency care service, effective immediately. This expansion comes on the heels of a record-breaking year for the hospital's emergency room and Fast Track combined, which saw 10,790 patient visits in 2024. This represents a significant increase over the five-year average of 9,351 emergency room visits from 2019-2023.

Opening in March in a space adjacent to the emergency room, the Fast Track alone reported 1,463 patient visits in 2024.

"The increased utilization of our ER and Fast Track services demonstrates the community's need for accessible and efficient healthcare," said William Newton Hospital Emergency Department & Fast Track Manager Cassie Stein, BSN, RN, EMT. “These expanded Fast Track hours will allow us to better serve our patients and ensure they receive the appropriate level of care in a timely manner.”

The Fast Track is now open daily: Monday – Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Similar to urgent care, the Fast Track is designed to provide a walk-in option for patients with less serious medical conditions, allowing for faster treatment and reduced wait times. This service is ideal for issues such as:

• Minor cuts and burns
• Sprains and strains
• Cold and flu symptoms
• Allergic reactions
• Other non-life-threatening conditions

The emergency room remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. A medical screening is conducted by healthcare professionals to assess the patient’s condition upon arrival to evaluate the severity of symptoms and determine the most appropriate level of care.

William Newton Hospital advises patients to establish care with a primary care provider to build a trusted relationship for prevention and wellness and managing chronic conditions. Primary care is also typically more cost-effective than urgent or emergency care.

“While the ER is open to all and the Fast Track accepts patients without an appointment, we encourage patients to address ailments with their primary care provider when appropriate,” Stein added. “This helps us keep the ER available for those with urgent injuries to life-threatening emergencies.”

Changes to Fast Track hours due to provider availability will be posted on the hospital's Facebook page and website.

Click here for a guide to understanding the various care options available at William Newton Hospital.