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Gala to raise funds for urgent care center at Mercy
By Rayma Silvers
The Fort Scott Tribune
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The 18th annual Capture the Spirit Gala, sponsored by the Mercy Health Center Foundation, will help capture more efficient medical coverage this year.
Some of the proceeds from the event will be used to construct an urgent care center located across from the existing emergency room located at Mercy Health Center. An urgent care center is used for minor emergencies, while an emergency room is used for the major emergencies that occur, Mercy Health Center CEO John Woodrich said.
When an emergency arises, it can be extremely difficult to think clearly, Mercy Health Center Director of Marketing and Developing Carla Farmer said. The creation of an urgent care center will help in such instances. All a person needs to do in an emergency is drive to one place. A parent of a sick child does not need to waste his or her time making a decision on the proper place to take the child for treatment. Since the urgent care center will be built adjacent to the emergency room at the hospital, that parent only needs to bring the child to the hospital. The triage nurse will then decide if the child should be admitted to the emergency room or go across the hall to the urgent care center, she said.
Another nice feature that will accompany the urgent care center is the access to medical records. Any person who utilizes the Mercy Physicians Group or who has visited Mercy Health Center before will have medical records already in the system. Access to these records will save the patients and physicians time. It will also give the physicians better knowledge of the patient's medical history. The urgent care center is expected to speed up the medical process. The goal is to have each patient in and out of the urgent care center in less than an hour, Woodrich said.
The urgent care center will be staffed with two full-time nurse practitioners. On Monday through Friday, one will cover the first shift, which will begin at 3:30 p.m., and the other one will work until the center closes at 11 p.m. The center will be open from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, Woodrich said.
Just as the emergency department has access to the laboratory and X-rays 24 hours a day, the urgent care center will also have access to these much-needed tools during all hours of operation, Farmer said.
The urgent care center will accept most insurance plans with the same co-pays as a regular physician visit. For a minor emergency such as sprains, minor fractures or a minor respiratory infection, just to name a few, this will be a less expensive alternative to having to go to the emergency department, Woodrich said.
Since emergencies can cause people to think less clearly, Mercy Health Center will be lining the entrance as well as the driveway to the emergency room and the urgent care center with large signs that will point the way to help, Farmer said.
The upcoming development of the urgent care facility is in response to community input. The facility has been a part of Mercy Health Center's strategic plan since last April. Farmer said that it is good for those who live in the area.
"It is the right thing to do for the community," she said.
For questions about the urgent care facility or to purchase tickets to this year's Capture the Spirit Gala, call Farmer at (620) 223-7026. There is only a limited number of tickets available this year. To purchase a ticket or tickets, call as soon as possible, she said.