St. Vincent Health To Launch Dual-Track In September

At St. Vincent Health, we’re always looking for ways to improve how we care for our community—whether that’s through more personalized service, more medical provider options, or making care more affordable.

Starting in September 2025, we’re introducing something new: the Dual Track Emergency Department (ED). This innovative model, launched in partnership with CMS’s Hospital Transformation Program, is designed to make sure every patient gets the right care, at the right time, in the right setting.

What is a Dual-Track Emergency Department?

Think of the Dual Track ED as a “two-lane” approach to emergency care:

• Emergent Track: For serious, life-threatening, or urgent conditions.
• Less-Emergent Track: For less severe issues that still need prompt attention, at a reduced emergency price.

It’s not an urgent care clinic—it’s still part of the emergency department—but patients with less-emergent conditions will be routed into a more streamlined care path that’s faster and more affordable.

Why Dual Track Benefits Patients

Even though St. Vincent Health rarely has long wait times, the Dual Track model offers added advantages:

• Faster care for less severe issues like minor injuries, rashes, or infections.
• Lower out-of-pocket costs, since non-emergent visits typically have reduced co-pays compared to full emergency billing.
• Smarter use of resources, allowing our team to focus fully on each patient’s needs.

How Patients Qualify for Dual Track

The process begins when you check in:

1. Patient Access Review – The registrar looks at your main concern and compares it to a list of approved non-emergent protocols.
2. Nurse Triage – A nurse assesses your symptoms to determine whether you’ll be placed on the emergent or non-emergent track.

Conditions Covered in Dual Track

Patients may be eligible if they present with one of these 12 less-emergent conditions:

• Minor trauma
• Minor burns
• Nausea/vomiting
• Minor lacerations/abrasions
• Eye infection or irritation
• Sexually transmitted infection (STI)
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Upper respiratory infection
• Animal bite
• Pregnancy testing (confirmation)
• Rash
• Minor altitude sickness

When and Where to Access Dual Track Care

📍 Location: St. Vincent Health Emergency Department
816 W 4th Street, Leadville, Colorado

🕒 Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

What If a Patient’s Condition Changes?

If your condition worsens while in the non-emergent track, our nurses will immediately escalate your care to the emergent track. Your registration and billing will be updated accordingly.

Understanding the Cost Difference

An emergency department bill typically includes two parts:

• Facility Fee
• Provider/Professional Fee

In the non-emergent track, the provider/professional fee is discounted by 20%. This helps lower the financial burden for patients who don’t require full emergency-level resources.

Important: Tests, supplies, medications, labs, and imaging are billed separately and are not included in the Dual Track discount.

In Summary

The Dual Track ED at St. Vincent Health is another way we’re working to make healthcare in Lake County more accessible, efficient, and patient-focused. By offering two levels of care under one roof, we can provide timely treatment that matches the urgency of each patient’s needs—while keeping costs lower than a standard emergency room visit.