Officials with the Erlanger Health System announced plans to open two new medical facilities in Cleveland, Tn.
Erlanger’s first Cleveland-based facility will include an urgent care center, primary care clinic, as well as a specialty clinic, pediatric specialty clinic and a physical therapy clinic for rehabilitation services. The medical building housing these services is located off Paul Huff Parkway at Holiday Inn Express Way NW.
It is expected to open in November.
Construction of the new medical services building, which will also house leased physician offices, is a result of Erlanger’s partnership with Noon Development in Chattanooga.
A second Erlanger primary care office, slated to open early next year, will be located at the Village Green Town Center on Keith Street near downtown Cleveland.
In August 2016, Erlanger and Cleveland officials celebrated the relocation of Life Force 1 to the Cleveland Regional Jetport. That relocation to Cleveland was part of Erlanger’s strategy to place medical evacuation helicopters closer to where they were needed, rather than based at the downtown Chattanooga hospital, officials said.
“Our whole strategy in the Cleveland community, as well as other communities we serve, is to create greater access to care closer to home,” said Erlanger Chief Strategy Officer Matt Gibson. “Annually, approximately 20,000 emergency room visits by Bradley and Polk County residents occur outside their counties."
"It is apparent the residents of these two counties need more access to care, and we continue to see a need for Erlanger to provide medical services in these communities,” he said, noting that hundreds of Erlanger employees and physicians also live in Bradley and Polk Counties.
Another part of Erlanger’s “right care, right place” strategy is getting area residents and their families connected with primary care physicians. According to Mr. Gibson, data shows that if someone has a primary care physician, they are more likely to manage their care more proactively and more effectively. “Our Erlanger Express Care Centers provide a needed resource for those with non-urgent healthcare needs, but having a medical home is also critically important,” he said.
The Chattanooga-based healthcare system recently opened three new Erlanger Express Care Centers at Erlanger East Hospital on Gunbarrel Road, downtown Chattanooga and in Soddy Daisy. A new Erlanger primary care and urgent care center is slated to open next month in Hayesville, N.C.