Since forming an alliance last year with TruePartners Emergency Physicians, Northwest has continued to focus on building a caring, cohesive team of doctors to provide the best possible treatment for you and your family. Even though you might not spend a lot of time in the emergency room, the interaction you have with your ER physician can be very meaningful. With this in mind, Northwest has brought together a highly skilled group of ER doctors who are board-certified and bring extensive experience to the community.
Physician team
David Stone, MD
ER Medical Director
Medical school: University of South Carolina
Residency: Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital
David Darrigan, DO, FACEP, FAAEM
Medical school: The University of North Texas Health Sciences Center
Residency: UTSW/Parkland Memorial Hospital
Eric Babb, DO
Medical school: Des Moines University
Residency: University Medical Center in Lubbock
Stephen M. Howard, MD
Medical school: UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas
Residency: University Medical Center in El Paso through a residency with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso
Warren Boone, MD
Medical school: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine
Residency: Medical University of South Carolina
Trent Duncan, DO
Medical school: Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Tufts University Baystate Medical Center
Utilizing Our Emergency Resources to the Fullest
As the Lead Trauma Facility for the Panhandle area, Northwest is specially equipped to handle serious medical emergencies. The physicians in the ER have an in-depth knowledge of the facility and work closely with nurses, paramedics, hospital staff and medical specialists to deliver coordinated, personalized care. ER Medical Director David Stone, MD, who joined Northwest last year, leads the team. His philosophy is to engage providers to enhance efficiency and provide safe, high-quality care in as timely a manner as possible.
Combining Quality Care and Compassion
The emergency physicians at Northwest bring a special mix of life experience and professional accomplishments to the ER. Trent Duncan, DO, is the dad of two high-schoolers. David Darrigan, DO, FACEP, FAAEM, hosts a morning radio talk show segment titled “ER Talk with Dr. Dave.” Stephen M. Howard, MD, has personal ties to the community and moved back to Amarillo to be closer to his family. And Eric Babb, DO, is a nationally ranked expert in cheerleading safety.
One thing they all share is a passion for helping people. As described by Warren Boone, MD, his guiding philosophy is: “Do the right thing for the patient in front of you.”
Learn more about emergency services offered at Northwest Texas
We've Updated Our ER!
To support more streamlined care and a better overall patient experience, a number of renovations and changes have been made to the ER at Northwest Texas Healthcare System, says ED Director Todd Farina, MHA, BSN, RN, CEN.
New laminate wood flooring and fresh paint provide a more welcoming appearance from the moment patients arrive. “The area is more functional now,” says Farina, explaining how they’ve relocated the charge nurse to allow for more efficient communication, and added eight new bays with recliners where patients with less serious medical conditions can receive treatment and await test results. Also, last year the hospital purchased new cardiac monitors, so that monitors are available in all of the ER rooms.
Key goals are to minimize wait times for patients and improve the flow through the ER so that people can be seen and treated as quickly as possible. The teamwork-oriented approach of the ER physicians is contributing to that effort, Farina says.
Satellite ER Facility
In addition to Northwest's hospital-based emergency services, emergency care is also provided 24/7 at our satellite facility, Northwest Emergency at Town Square, located at 8960 Hillside Road in Amarillo.