BCHS physicians are waiting to see you, not vice versa
The local emergency department is not a place where you should go to have a cold treated. As the name implies, the emergency department is for emergencies. To help reduce the crowds typical for emergency rooms, Battle Creek Health System is opening an urgent care center in the former Pilgrim House furniture store on Beckley Road, in the same building where the ‘open’ MRI is located.
The new Beckley Road Urgent Care opens on Monday, December 17. It will provide high quality, convenient, time-efficient medical care for all non life- or limb-threatening injuries and illnesses M-F from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday, and holidays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“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. “Our expectation is that by offering this new problem-specific service, Battle Creek Health System will be able to not only serve our patients-more efficiently, but also lessen the overcrowding for true emergencies at the hospital which currently sees nearly 50,000 patients annually.”
The new urgent care center will occupy 4,000 square feet of space. Board certified physicians and nurses would staff the clinic with certifications in internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine. The center will have six examination rooms, X-ray capabilities, and a laboratory for testing. It will also offer sports physicals.
“Our goal is 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 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 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 is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and has earned the Joint Commission’s ‘Gold Seal of Approval.’ Battle Creek Health System is the recipient of the 2005 and 2006 HealthGrades ‘Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient SafetyTM.’ HealthGrades, a leading health care information company that provides objective ‘report card’ ratings nationwide, has also named BCHS a 2006 five-star performer in vascular services. 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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