Southbridge, Mass., December 4, 2014-Harrington HealthCare System is extending “Total Local Care” beyond its emergency rooms and primary care offices and into urgent care. Following the recent approval of a plan presented to its Board of Directors, Harrington is planning to convert its space on 10 Main St. in Charlton into an Urgent Care Center that is expected to open in the spring of 2015.
According the Ed Moore, Harrington President & CEO, Harrington will relocate its Wound Care program at the Charlton location and we will capitalize on its existing radiology and lab services that will remain at the site.
“We performed careful due diligence, and our research found that Charlton is an ideal location for urgent care given its demographics of residents and employers and its close proximity to towns like Oxford, Dudley, and Spencer,” says Moore.
He adds, “There are many reasons why urgent care is such a vital, emerging trend. The benefits of urgent care include walk-in service, especially after-hours and on weekends; lower co-pays compared to emergency departments; and integration with primary care physicians through electronic medical records. By opening a new center, we also have an opportunity to create more jobs and add a direct new source of hospital revenue.”
Moore projects that the new center will treat more than 8,000 patients its first year and then increase volume to 10,000 in the following year. The center, he says, will provide access for acute illness and injuries that are beyond the scope and availability of primary care providers and retail clinics. Common conditions to be treated include fevers, upper respiratory infections, sprains, lacerations, contusions, and back pain.
According to Jim Waddick, Board Chair of Harrington HealthCare System, the Urgent Care Center will fill a void in the community and build on Harrington’s continuum of care.
“As Harrington expands its role as a major regional healthcare system, we are always looking for ways to bring quality, accessible, and affordable care to patients close to where they live and work,” says Waddick. “Urgent care is another example of how we are furthering our mission of bringing Total Local Care, or TLC, to more and more patients.”
Another advantage of the new center, adds Waddick, is the ability to increase the early detection of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic conditions.
“In addition,” says Waddick, “there are economic incentives tied to our Urgent Care Center. As we increase our volume of direct care, we will also provide many referrals for specialty services.”
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