x
Breaking News
More () »

Urgent Care Clinic in Odessa Seeing a Rise in Patients

A recent health care move is reaping several benefits. Now that Odessa's Urgent Care Clinic is closer to Medical Center Hospital, health professionals say they've see a rise in customers and the boom in business is helping both doctors and patients.
By Cierra Putman
NewsWest 9

ODESSA - A recent health care move is reaping several benefits.

Now that Odessa's Urgent Care Clinic is closer to Medical Center Hospital, health professionals say they've see a rise in customers and the boom in business is helping both doctors and patients.

It's convenient, quick, and usually less expensive than the ER - its urgent care.

MCH's new campaign using newspaper and word of mouth advertising is getting the word out that the urgent care is the place to go for non-life threatening emergencies.

"Most of patients that I see say they're glad we're open because sometimes they don't want to wait in the emergency room which can take them like three or four hours," Urgent Care Family Nurse Practitioner, Nancy Bueno, said. "They're glad we can see them here and they're in and out."

"I've found that about 20 percent are responding to the newspaper ads and we're happy to hear that helped them to find out about us," Julian Beseril, MCH ProCare Interim Executive Director, said. "Other than that we found a real good source about 30 percent response is coming from other providers or hospitals or clinics or doctors and it's really convenient to some of them because if they're not available on weekends or evenings then they have somewhere to refer to."

Urgent care doctors can treat strains, sprains, fevers, stomach flu and much more when you need help but can't see your primary physician quickly.

On top of helping patients not rack up sky high ER costs, the center also helps keep the ER clear.

"It unburdens our hospitals ER so that they can treat more emergency cases or severe cases," Beseril said. "Obviously if you come here and need more care or further care than can be given here, you'll be directed to an emergency room, but things that we can take care of here, it's just better and easier for them to get that care."

Before You Leave, Check This Out