Four fast facts about OMC's new, redesigned FastCare clinics

If you need fast, non-emergency medical care, look no further than FastCare® from Olmsted Medical Center. From treating common illnesses and injuries to administering flu shots, FastCare® clinics provide high-quality care in a hurry. After being temporarily displaced by the closure of the city’s two Skopko stores, both of OMC’s FastCares are back open with new, enhanced facilities on the south and north sides of Rochester. We recently stopped by one of the locations to get a better understanding of when FastCare® may be the best option for you or a loved one.

Below are four things we think you should know:

The new clinics are larger.

Not only do the FastCare® clinics have new addresses, they also have more real estate.

“Both clinics are significantly larger than what we had before at Shopko,” explains Clover Schultz, PA-C, OMC’s lead clinician for walk-in services.

The new FastCare® North opened in August in Elton Hills Plaza, 102 Elton Hills Drive Northwest, just a few doors down from OMC's Rehabilitation Services. FastCare® South began welcoming patients a month later in the Crossroads Plaza, 90 14th Street Southwest, near Walgreens and across from the fairgrounds.

Both clinics feature a larger lobby space, along with three exam rooms (the previous locations each had two rooms) and office space for FastCare’s experienced team of medical professionals.

That means while there will continue to be one clinician at each site, the added space will allow for OMC to bring in extra clinicians during peak periods, says Kevin Switalski, DNP, APRN, CNP, with FastCare®.

“This gives us substantially increased space to see patients when the time arrives for higher demand,” he explains.

You can arrive at the door.

Convenience is at the core of OMC’s FastCare® model. That is why the team there is so enthused by the setting of the new clinics.

Whereas before the FastCares were located within a large retail store, the new locations allow patients to park right outside of the clinics’ entrances.

For instance, “If you have a little one that is sick or has an earache, rash, or runny nose, you can park at the front door and walk in. It’s quick. It’s easy. You’re in and out,” says Schultz.

Once inside the FastCare®, Schultz says the new, more spacious lobbies have been designed to make patients feel more comfortable.

“Just the experience where someone can walk in and sit down, and there are kids in the lobby, and there’s space and movement; that just makes the whole environment more appealing,” says Schultz.

FastCare is ready for flu season.

The re-opening of the FastCare® clinics could not have come at a better time. With the arrival of the fall season, local providers are now preparing for the busiest time of year.

“We are going to start seeing a lot more strep throats, more upper respiratory infections,” explains Switalski. Cold and flu symptoms are among the main drivers for patients visiting FastCare®.

Additionally, for the convenience of patients, the clinics also provide flu shots, as well as testing for both strep and influenza.

Schultz, however, says it’s important to remember that “FastCare is intended for minor illnesses that can be addressed quickly and easily.” She says patients experiencing more serious injuries, such as abdominal pain, chest pain, cuts, lacerations, or anything requiring an X-ray, should visit Acute Care or the Emergency Room.

Expect the same high-quality services.

Through all the changes, OMC remains committed to providing the same level of high-quality care patients have come to expect.

To help you determine if convenient care is the best option for you or a member of your family, we have included a list of conditions that can be treated through FastCare®:

• Acne

• Allergies

• Allergic reactions (minor)

• Bladder/urinary tract infections (UTI)

• Bruises

• Colds/flu symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, and earache

• Cold sores

• Insect bites/stings

• Minor burns and rashes (eczema, poison ivy/oak, athlete’s foot, and sunburn)

• Minor sunburn

• Mononucleosis (mono)

• Sinus infections

• Skin infections, including impetigo and ringworm

• Sore throat

• Vaccinations including flu shots, tetanus and meningitis (extra charges apply)

Additionally, OMC FastCare® clinics offer the following medical services:

• Pregnancy tests (18 years and older, extra charges apply)

• Smoking cessation

• Sports physicals (not billable to insurance)

• Stitch removal

• Testing for strep, influenza and mono (extra charges apply)

A visit to FastCare® costs $55, and OMC is able to bill your insurance company. You do not have to be an OMC patient to visit either clinic.

FastCare® North and FastCare® South are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both locations are closed on holidays.

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