On March 1, 2016, Phoebe plans to further expand access to care by opening the Phoebe Community Care Clinic.  Located on 4th Avenue directly across the street from the emergency center, the clinic will treat patients with minor medical needs on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
This new clinic, designed to be both service and cost friendly, is part of the health system’s continuous efforts to improve the flow of patients through the emergency center – more appropriately meeting the care demands of our community.
 
Across the nation, the use of emergency centers for non-emergent care has been a growing issue due to lack of access to appropriate care facilities. It is the most expensive place to receive non-emergent care and the waits can be extended due to the need to address true emergencies first.
 
“Appropriate access is vital to ensuring optimal health outcomes and service excellence,” said Joel Wernick, CEO and president of Phoebe Putney Health System. “If they do not have a primary care physician, or if their primary care physician is not available, our new Community Care walk-in clinic provides Albany area residents the appropriate level of care in a convenient location. It will help alleviate congestion at our main campus emergency center—one of the state’s busiest with more than 60,000 patient visits annually.”
 
Among Phoebe’s work to provide the right care in the right place at the right time is a recent orchestrated effort to safely reduce the amount of time it takes to see a provider upon arrival at the emergency center.  This program, called Provider First, aims to determine quickly, through a medical screening, whether a patient can be treated and released through our fast treatment model or needs to be admitted to the emergency center for further evaluation. But, using the emergency department for non-emergent care still increases cost and over-crowding.  Therefore, following the medical screening and based on the level of care needed, they may also be given the option to seek treatment across the street at the Community Care Clinic.
 
Unless it is a true emergent situation, Phoebe’s 13 primary care practices are the best choice to ensure long-term optimal health status. They monitor their patients over time, allowing patterns to be identified and valuable relationships established.
 
In potentially life threatening situations, Phoebe’s four hospitals with 24/7 emergent care is the best choice. If not potentially life-threatening and your primary physician is not available, Phoebe provides two urgent care centers with a level of expense and care one step below critical levels best met by the emergency department.
 
The Community Care clinic rounds out the types of care needed by our community. It has on-site x-ray capability, a lab and 10 private treatment rooms. Alfred Woodard, MD, medical director for the new clinic, is supported by an experienced team of healthcare providers – eight nurse practitioners, radiology technologists and office staff.
 
There will be a ribbon cutting held at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, February 29, at the Community Care Clinic, located at 417 4th Avenue, with the official opening the following day.