Syracuse Community Health has reopened its downtown Urgent Care location, providing area pedestrians easy access to care.
The center served as the main COVID-testing site for Onondaga County throughout the pandemic. And despite staff shortages in health care, the center is opening its urgent care after a four-year closure.
Mark Hall said a lot happened after he became president and CEO of Syracuse Community Health in 2018.
“It was a challenging time because at that point, people are asking themselves, ‘Well, I have a medical condition that I would normally see a provider or physician, but I have to deal with the facts of this pandemic,’” said Hall.
“Being able to access a provider outside of your nine-to-five businesses hours is essential, so it’s a good time to do this,” said Hall.
A physician, nurse practitioners and physical assistants are available for patient care. No new staff was hired for the Urgent Care facility. Emergency dental is also available.
In a partnership with AMR, the facility will accept patients the medical transportation company determines can get care outside of area hospitals.
“It’s the patient’s choice. If they want to be diverted here, we obviously have shorter wait times. And it just gives patients an option, and it helps alleviate problems of overcrowding,” said Hall.
The Urgent Care opened Nov. 1 and though there are no official numbers, Hall believes there’s been an increase in people coming to the facility.
