Staff report

South Peninsula Hospital’s new Urgent Care Clinic opens June 1 at 4201 Bartlett Street in the same building as the Family Care and Speciality Clinic, according to a press release from the hospital. The same-day, walk-in clinic will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. No appointments are necessary, and patients will have access to on-site labs and X-rays. Urgent Care will be staffed by Carrie Warren, FNP-C, who is moving from the Family Care team, and Kara Zimmerman, PA-C, who recently moved to Homer.


The new clinic responds to comments in recent community surveys and conversations requesting greater access to timely, convenient care.


“Life is busy and messy, and you can’t plan or predict when you need care,” said Rachael Kincaid, SPH Chief Operating Officer, in the press release. “The addition of urgent care will open up access to primary care, save people money by avoiding more costly ER visits when appropriate, and connect people to timely care.”


Urgent Care is for non-life-threatening concerns that can’t wait for a scheduled appointment but don’t require emergency services. These situations include sprains or minor fractures; minor cuts or wounds; fever and flu; colds, coughs and sore throats; burns and rashes; vomiting or persistent diarrhea; allergies; or earaches. A complete list of the types of conditions most appropriate for Urgent Care will be available at www.sphosp.org.


The SPH Emergency Room remains open 24/7 for life-threatening conditions such as chest pain or difficulty breathing; head or eye injuries; seizures; suspected stroke; thoughts of suicide or self-harm; poisoning or drug overdoses. Patients still should see a primary care provider for chronic conditions, wellness checks and medication refills.


To complement the Urgent Care Clinic’s extended schedule, Homer Medical Center is expected to scale back evening and weekend clinic hours.


More information about the new clinic will be available on www.sphosp.org in coming weeks.