 Urgent Care 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, Beckley Road Urgent Care, one of Battle Creek Health System's newest service lines, is changing that foot traffic pattern so real emergencies can be handled more quickly at the hospital. At the same time, those with minor injuries will have shorter wait times.
Over the last two years, more than 20,000 area residents took that advice and visited the urgent care facility just off I-94. The 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 Denise Brooks-Williams, 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.
"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."
"It is estimated that nearly half of the 90 million visits to the emergency department are not true emergencies," says Lynn Sharpe, service area manager for the urgent care. "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," adds Baarson. "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. Our urgent care physicians are waiting to see you, not vice versa."
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. and weekdays and holidays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, you may call the urgent care at (269) 979-6888.
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, a member of the Mercy Cancer Network, is a recipient of the 2008 HealthGrades Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award(tm) and 2010 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.
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
What is considered an 'emergency?'
Emergency care is needed for all life-threatening conditions including:
* Cardiac arrest, heart attack, and trauma
* A cut or burn that is large, deep, or involves the head, chest, or abdomen
* Bleeding that does not stop after applying pressure for five minutes
* A burn that is large or involves the hands, groin, or face
* Any loss of consciousness, confusion, headache, or vomiting after a head injury
* Choking
* Near drowning
* Firearms or other weapons
* Electric shocks
* Poisoning*
*Call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1212 at once if a person has swallowed a suspected poison or another person's medication.
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