Erlanger Express Care has achieved accreditation through the Urgent Care Association; the highest level of distinction for urgent care centers.
"Only 13 percent of urgent care clinics in the United States have met this standard with just 16 clinics in the state of Tennessee achieving this accreditation," officials said. "Erlanger Express Care is the only walk-in urgent care clinic in the nearby area to achieve this accreditation, with the closest accredited clinic in Murfreesboro."
Erlanger Express Care has five clinics in the greater Chattanooga and surrounding areas with clinics in Downtown Chattanooga, East Brainerd, Soddy Daisy, Cleveland and Ringgold. Express Care will be opening its sixth clinic in the area in Hixson on June 1.
Officials said, "Erlanger Express Care centers provide patients with walk-in, extended-hour medical attention with licensed providers for a large scope of medical conditions and have met all of the Urgent Care Association’s established standards and criteria for quality of patient care, safety and scope of services.
"The health care environment is changing and it is becoming more and more important for patients to understand their treatment options. Urgent care is a convenient and viable option for medical conditions that cannot wait for a scheduled appointment with a primary care physician. Erlanger Express Care accepts unscheduled, walk-in patients during all hours of operation. The urgent care clinics are open 7 days a week with extended hours.
"When a medical condition cannot be handled by a patient’s regular doctor – such as cough/cold/flu symptoms, unexpected cuts, burns, sprains or fractures that do not require a visit to the emergency department, Erlanger Express Care’s urgent care centers are equipped with x-ray, laboratory services and licensed providers who are available to provide care and perform minor procedures like casting and suturing.
"Urgent care fills the gap between primary care and hospital emergency rooms, offering increased convenience and cost savings. According to the Urgent Care Association, as of June 2019, urgent care centers are growing with over 9,200 clinics in the United States. With its accreditation, Erlanger Express Care and the Urgent Care Association demonstrate their commitment toward providing patients with access to quality care of the highest level."
Erlanger Express Care Locations:
• 1635 Gunbarrel Road, Suite 110 Chattanooga, 423-541-5102
• 325 Market Street, Suite 102 Chattanooga, 423-541-5122
• 9448 Dayton Pike, Suite 108 Soddy Daisy, 423-541-5143
• 4312 Holiday Inn Express Way NW, Suite 102 Cleveland, 423-331-5200
• 6982 Nashville Street Ringgold, 706-841-4100
• Opening June 1: 5441 Hwy 153, Suite 101 Hixson, 423-451-8632
The first Erlanger Express Care centers opened in May 2019 (Gunbarrel, Market, Soddy Daisy) with Ringgold following in August 2019 and Cleveland in November 2019. The Hixson location will open on June 1. Most major insurance is accepted, with "competitive cash pay rate" for uninsured patients. Erlanger Express Cares are open seven days a week with extended hours and are the only express care centers affiliated with Erlanger Health System.