GREENFIELD — Walk-in medical care is available 12 hours a day, seven days a week at a new Greenfield clinic.
First Care started treating patients before it even cut its ribbon at 1317 N. State St. last week.
The clinic sees patients for common illnesses, minor injuries, diagnostic services and occupational medicine. It has 12 exam rooms, on-site lab testing and digital x-ray capabilities. The new location has about 15 employees, including nurse practitioners, x-ray technicians, medical assistants and patient service specialists working the front desk.
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The clinic accepts most major health insurance plans and can see veterans as well. It also offers a program allowing patients to pay $89 up front, which covers an office visit along with in-house testing and procedures.
First Care offers a program that earns $5 for patients’ schools for every $25 sports physical visit too.
Stephanie Forsberg, director of human resources for First Care Clinics, said the company usually looks for smaller cities and towns that lack medical care during evenings and weekends.
“A lot of times, there’s no place for people to go other than the ER, and a lot of times that’s very expensive and may have long wait times,” Forsberg said.
First Care, with headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, has 16 clinics in Indiana and Kentucky. The other Indiana locations are Seymour, Bedford, New Castle and Richmond.
Sabrina Briggs, director of clinical quality for First Care and a family nurse practitioner, said the company’s clinics refer patients to health care services outside of its scope.
“We don’t provide primary care, but we want to connect them back with people that are in your community to help bridge that gap,” she said. “A lot of people just don’t know where to go.”
Rob Pantoja, CEO of First Care Clinics, said he’s met with a Hancock Health representative and echoed Briggs’ point.
“We want to have a good relationship with them,” Pantoja said.
Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell said at last week’s ribbon cutting that he expects the clinic’s pre-employment drug screens to be a significant draw. He referred to the recent grand opening of BeijingWest Industries’ new plant, which is expected to employ hundreds; and Yamaha, which broke ground on a new factory earlier this month.
“It’s going to be a big item,” Fewell said.
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WHAT: First Care
WHEN: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week
WHERE: 1317 N. St. St., Greenfield
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