The change in hours meets the needs of patients for appropriately scaled services outside of regular work hours.  “We often hear from patients that it can be difficult to leave work or school for health appointments”, say clinic owner and Nurse Practitioner, Lani Hill, FNP-BC.  “Hopefully this change will make it easier for people to schedule medical appointments at times that work better for them.”

The clinic underwent a major expansion in May 2011.  It added two new exam rooms and four additional Nurse Practitioners to the medical staff allowing the clinic to accommodate same day appointments and walk-in care.

“Our goal has always been to get patients in as quickly as possible.  It’s just that we have never had enough hours to always pull it off”, says John Hill, clinic Business Manager.  He points out that the same day approach has a number of benefits.  Prompt medical attention can decrease the severity of the illness, decrease lost time from work, and decrease costs to the patients and their insurance.  “A same day approach can decrease health care costs for everyone over the long term”, Hill states. 

The clinic, which is located downtown in the Mary Frances building, provides primary health care as well as treatment of minor injuries and illnesses that need to be seen right away.  In addition, the clinic staff provides work, sports, and school physicals; workers compensation exams; women’s health; prescriptions, immunizations and vaccines; diabetes care; and treatment of skin and nail conditions among other routine care.  The clinic also offers walk-in lab services without a medical visit or appointment.