NEW: CareWell Urgent Care To Open in Warwick Nov. 15
Monday, October 15, 2012
CareWell Urgent Care will open a new urgent care center in Warwick on November 15. Convenient also for residents of East Greenwich, West Warwick, and Coventry, the center will be "the place to go for fast, compassionate medical care in a comfortable environment when someone has an episodic, but still urgent, non-life-threatening illness or injury such as colds, flu, infections, fractures, cuts, rashes, or allergic reactions and chronic conditions,” says CEO Renee M. Lohman. The center will also offer health screenings, certain physicals, vaccinations, and flu shots.
The CareWell Urgent Care Center will function as an extension of the patient's own primary care provider and will offer neighborhood healthcare without an appointment and without the long wait. The quick turnaround time is the result of six exam rooms with x-ray and lab capabilities. Whether the patient lives down the street or across the country, CareWell will forward x-rays, lab results, and diagnostic notes to the patient's primary doctor within 24 hours of the urgent care visit. Most major insurance plans, Medicare, and credit cards will be accepted, and co-pays will be similar to those charged for a doctor's office visit.
Urgent care
Lohman, who has 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, acknowledges the great difference that an urgent care center can make when a patient has a non-life threatening illness or injury, saying that "early treatment usually results in better health outcomes—a key factor in the growth in urgent care centers nationwide.” Many health insurance companies such as Blue Cross, Cigna, and Aetna also acknowledge the value of urgent care centers and recommend that patients take advantage of them when they call the insurer's hotline after hours, and with good reason. According to the Urgent Care Association of America, in 2010, there were 8,700 urgent care centers in the United States. This number increased by about 300 each year in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. The average number of patients seen per center is 342 a week.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe two physicians who will see patients at the CareWell Urgent Care Center have worked in urgent care settings for several years. Dr. Oliver M. Gherardi, DO, will be chief physician at the Warwick center and Dr. Ram Ravi, MD, will be a staff physician. Kathy Parker, a nurse practitioner with 20 years of experience in the Warwick area, will serve as the center’s Practice Manager.
A dedication and open house will take place Saturday, November 17. Details will be provided closer to the date.
Warwick CareWell Urgent Care Center, 535 Centerville Rd, Warwick. Open Monday-Friday, 8am-8pm. Saturday, 9am-5pm. Sunday, 10am-4pm.
