BCHS physicians are waiting to see you, not vice versa
Since the local emergency department is not a place where you should go to have a cold treated, recently opened Beckley Road Urgent Care is changing that foot traffic pattern so real emergencies can be handled more quickly at the hospital.
To that point, Linita Swaffield of Battle Creek followed that advice, went to the Beckley Road Urgent Care, and became the 10,000th guest there.
Beckley Road Urgent Care opened in December 2007 providing high quality, convenient, time-efficient medical care for all non life- or limb-threatening injuries and illnesses.
"Nationwide, more and more patients are visiting the emergency department for cuts, bruises, and other non-critical conditions that can be safely handled by an urgent care center," says Pat Garrett, BCHS president and CEO. "This new problem-specific service not only serves our patients-more efficiently, but also lessens the overcrowding for true emergencies at the hospital which currently sees nearly 50,000 patients annually."
The urgent care center occupies 4,000 square feet of space. Board certified physicians and nurses with certifications in internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine staff the clinic. The center has six examination rooms, X-ray capabilities, and a laboratory for testing. Beckley Road Urgent Care, located at 5352 Beckley Road, across the street from Bob Evans, is open Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; weekdays and holiday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, you may call the urgent care at (269) 979-6888.
"Our goal from the start has been to provide exceptional service through the highest quality care in a professional, friendly, and efficient manner," says Gerrie Baarson, executive director of outpatient and ancillary services at Battle Creek Health System "We are here when your primary care provider's office is closed, when you are not able to schedule a convenient appointment, and when you just can't wait to feel better. This 10,000-patient milestone is very special to our staff and we hope to all who come through those doors."
"It is estimated that nearly half of the 90 million visits to the emergency department are not true emergencies," says Steve Marzolf, director of BCHS emergency services. "That means that over 40 million people not only paid more for routine care then they would have at a physician's office or urgent care center, but they also probably wasted a lot of time because emergency departments are not set up to care for routine illnesses.
"If that were not enough, emergency departments do not work on a first-come, first-served basis as many people mistakenly believe. They use a triage or sorting system of evaluation so that critical cases, such as people suffering from heart attacks or injuries from serious accidents or violent crimes, are treated first. Everyone else usually has to wait before being seen. That is where an urgent care service can help. The urgent care physicians are waiting to see you, not vice versa."
Battle Creek Health System, sponsored by two parent organizations--Trinity Health (the fourth largest Catholic health system in the U.S. with 21 hospitals, 9 nursing homes, 19 senior house facilities, 8 home health care agencies, and 4 hospices in Michigan alone) and BCHS Community Partners, is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Battle Creek Health System as a recipient of the 2008 HealthGrades Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award(tm) and 2009 Five Star rated for joint replacement surgery and total knee replacement. HealthGrades is a leading health care information company that provides objective 'report card' ratings nationwide. BCHS provides excellent health care for the community and promotes wellness for the whole person with access and compassion for all. For the latest medical information, visit the BCHS web site at www.bchealth.com or call the BCHS Marketing Department at (269) 966-8132.
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Linita Swaffield, center, returned to Beckley Road Urgent Care recently to receive special recognition from (L-R) Dr. Tom Leibold, Carrie Wheeler, Melissa Bushey, and Susan Schwenn members of the staff. Swaffield was the 10,000th patient to be treated at the one-year-old health care facility.
(Side bar)
What is considered 'urgent care?'
Urgent care is any non life- or limb-threatening injuries and illnesses including:
* Abrasions, bruises, scrapes, and small cuts
* Coughs, colds, fever, and flu symptoms
* Ear, eye, nose, and skin infections
* Minor burns (e.g. minor cooking or sun burns)
* Minor fractures
* Respiratory or urinary tract infections
* Sprains and strains
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