Urgent care is now available at Alleghany Health. The hospital rolled out a pilot program offering Urgent Care service to separate less severe injuries from Emergency Care this month.

Urgent Care is intended for people with the following and similar ailments: cold symptoms like headache, cough and congestion; animal and insect bites; minor bone fractures; flu-like symptoms; ear infections; minor injuries; vomiting; fever; and sunburn.

People with the following injuries should go to Emergency Care, AKA the ER: chest pain, breathing difficulties, consciousness loss, severe abdominal pain, severe and sustained vomiting, serious trauma, severe burns, broken bones, seizures, poisoning and deep cuts and abrasions with uncontrolled bleeding.

According to Alleghany Memorial Hospital Foundation Director Robin Gambill, Urgent Care patients are admitted at the front desk, Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-1 p.m. She said those needing urgent medical attention after these hours should go to the ER. Interior signs are in place to direct people to Urgent Care. Another Alleghany Health rep said that plans are for it to have a dedicated entrance after renovations are complete.

According to Gambill, the service opened on Feb. 1, under the Alleghany Health Services Practice of Drs. Jose Arocha and Ryan Short.

Gambill said that the Urgent Care service could expand hours in the future, as this is currently a pilot program, and could include weekend hours. She said they do not have pediatrics right now, so Urgent Care is restricted to those aged 18 and older. Children needing urgent attention should be taken to the ER.

According to an advertisement run in the Jan. 27 Alleghany News issue, Urgent Care accepts primary care copay.

The hospital is located at 233 Doctors St., Sparta. It can be reached at 336-372-3110. Those in an emergency should call 911.

The hospital is also introducing a new telehealth service, which will be featured in an upcoming article.

Urgent Care is currently accessed through the hospital’s main entrance, pictured above.
Photo by Bob Bamberg

By ZACHARY WEAVER
Alleghany News Staff