January 10, 2008

Mercy Urgent Care: Area’s First Urgent Care Offers Expert, Personal Services

When winter illness strikes, you fall on the ice, or your toddler has a fever, Mercy Urgent Care, Siouxland’s first urgent care clinic, offers easily accessible and immediate treatment for injuries and unexpected illnesses that occur at home or away from home.

For expert medical treatment of nearly anything from broken bones to influenza, it is an efficient, affordable alternative to an emergency room or a doctor’s office.

A service of Mercy Medical Center—Sioux City, Mercy Urgent Care is operated in tandem with Mercy Business Health Services at 3500 Singing Hills Boulevard in Sioux City. The clinic is an ideal destination for patients with urgent medical problems — that is, problems that require prompt attention, but aren’t serious enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room.

Services are even available on weekday evenings and during the weekend.

Mercy introduced the concept of urgent care in Sioux City in 2001. With patient volumes at the clinic steadily climbing since that time, the Siouxland region seems to have embraced the urgent care concept, a patient-friendly approach that offers health care consumers easy access to medical care.

“Many people have turned to Mercy Urgent Care for medical care that is quick, convenient and affordable,” says Dr. Rodney Cassens, medical director for the clinic. “Not only do we have a steady flow of patients coming through our doors during the day, but many of our patients also appreciate the fact that Mercy Urgent Care is open outside of regular business hours so they can receive treatment for minor illnesses or injuries at time when their doctor’s office might be closed.”

“Mercy Urgent Care is also helpful for parents who find their children are sick when they get home or when they become ill during the weekend,” Cassens adds.

Treatment at Mercy Urgent Care is similar in many ways to an ER or doctor’s office. A person registers when they arrive. Basic personal, medical and insurance information is requested. Then, the patient is taken to an exam room where their vital signs are checked. When the attending healthcare professional comes into the room, he or she will ask questions about the illness or injury and listen carefully to the patient’s replies and concerns. Once the examination is completed, an appropriate treatment plan is established.

Mercy Urgent Care patients receive personal, attentive care. The clinic’s staff makes every effort to minimize the patient’s wait.

Mercy Urgent Care is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. No appointments are necessary.

For more information about the services provided by Mercy Urgent Care, call (712) 274-4250.