By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Earaches, lacerations and sprained ankles don’t always happen during normal business hours. When your doctor’s office is closed, you can go to the hospital emergency room, but that’s expensive.
To “meet the community’s need,” HaysMed is opening its new Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic Monday, January 12.
Located in Building 4 of the Oak Park Medical Complex, 2501 E. 13th, the facility will be open seven days a week, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas days.
“The hospital emergency department can be convenient and timely, but it can also be expensive for patients who don’t have a true life-threatening condition,” said Director of Critical Care Kevin Myers.
Myers knows exactly what can happen.
“I’m the parent of four children, and they get an ear infection Friday night and need an antibiotic. It’s their third ear infection of the season and you know exactly what they need, but what do you do? Go to the emergency department and that’s just a tough one to swallow (financially.)
“Convenient Care will allow you to get that antibiotic, see a healthcare provider and make sure that’s what it is,” said Myers.
The clinic will not take appointments; care is provided on a walk-in basis only.
“We expect to have patients in and out within an hour to 90 minutes,” Myers said. Convenient Care employs nurse practitioners, physician assistants and clinical nurses along with office staff. There are six treatment rooms and one larger procedure room.
Myers described the walk-in clinic as a “growth plan in process.”
“We started with the ‘Fast Track’ in the (hospital) emergency department to offer that non-emergent quick care by adding a second provider to work from two to 10 p.m. We found that just wasn’t working. The next logical step was to take it off campus, broaden the hours and be able to offer a cheaper rate than what the emergency department could offer.”
Payment will be required up-front, whether that’s an insurance co-payment or the flat fee of $55 dollars to be seen. Treatment information will be forwarded to the patient’s primary care provider.
HaysMed Convenient Care will be open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The hours of operation are based on availability of local pharmacies that are open at the same times to immediately fill prescriptions that may be prescribed, Myers explained.
“We’ll continuously look at the data and make adjustments as we need them–determining if these hours are the best and if we need to offer additional services, such as sports physicals.”
There is one major change already being planned.
“We’re actively pursuing an alternative location where we can build or revamp a structure closer to I-70 and Vine Street,” said Myers. “It’ll be more convenient for people in other communities and for traffic on I-70 that comes into Hays. Somebody may be in town for their kid’s basketball tournament and decide to stop in at the clinic to have their sore throat looked at.”
Radiology and other equipment will be in place at the newer location. Currently, Convenient Care is using the hospital’s radiology department.
Myers says the goal is to relocate the walk-in clinic nearer to Interstate 70 within 12 months.