June 25, 2010:

UCA Awards Methodist University Scholarship  to Six PA Students in Fayetteville, NC

Wake Urgent Care's Practice Manager Reza Hatefi and Fuquay Urgent Care's Practice Manager Robin Elledge proudly presented the Urgent Cares of America Scholarship award to six physician assistant students at the Methodist University's Physician Assistant Program in Fayetteville, NC.

Joanie Blevins, Andrea B. Flipkowski, Courtney Gallagher, Tanya Gibson-McCall, William Luke Hickman, and Teresita Ruoff proudly accepted their five hundred dollar scholarships and recognition awards from Mr. Hatefi and Ms. Elledge. Each recipient received a $500 scholarship to use towards their training, which includes equipment, text books and tuition.

Reza Hatefi, who is also Director of Provider Relations for Urgent Cares of America offered a few words at the ceremony  “Great people, with great ambition and a great love for the care of people leave this PA program, Jason Williams our organization's CEO, Robin and I are all your examples of that here today.” Reuel Heyden, Director of Community Relations for UCA said “There is significant talent and potential in students graduating from the Methodist University PA program , Urgent Cares of America is what it is today as a result of talent and experience of Robin Elledge and Reza Hatefi.”

The UCA scholarship is funded by graduates Robin Elledge, a 1998 graduate and Practice Manager for Fuquay Urgent Care, and Reza Hatefi, a 2000 graduate and Practice Manager at Wake Urgent Care in Garner. Both clinics are part of the Raleigh Urgent Care Network. The scholarship is in its second year and was pioneered by Jason Williams, current CEO and President of Urgent Cares of America, who is also a 1998 graduate of the Methodist PA Program. “We have worked hard to forge this relationship with the PA Program as Methodist PAs are strategically important to us as a top-tier resource for new qualified care providers in our clinics,” said Mr. Williams.

The Raleigh Urgent Care Network is the “Flagship of Value” created by Urgent Cares of America. With nine (9) member clinics and growing located all over the state of North Carolina, it allows for the patient or Occupational Medicine client to receive consistent, cost effective and timely health care on a local level within an experienced network. UCA Clinics utilize ZipPass, allowing for reduced wait times through online check-in. More information on UCA and its clinics at www.rucn.info.  About Urgent Cares of America: With expertise in starting, consulting with, and maintaining efficiencies in the Health Care specialties, Urgent Cares of America offers its clients consultation regarding staffing, provider credentialing, training, billing and coding, back office operations, and overall financial and practice management.

June 4 and 5, 2010:

FastMed of Cary and Urgent Care of Cary provide in-kind sponsorship of medical first aid for the American Diabetes Association's Tour De Cure, on June 5 and 6 in the triangle area rides and other loops. Photos of the event our participation, click HERE.

May 24. 2010:

WRAL reports on Physician Assistants becoming the backbone of primary care.

WRAL news reported May 19, 2010 on a story from Dr. Allen Mask on physician assistants becoming the primary support for physicians with the current changes in health care reform and the demand for medical services that continue to grow.

In Fayetteville, North Carolina, Methodist University's Physician Assistant Program has become a leader in providing to qualified physician assistants for those physicians. Urgent Cares of America, with over 9 clinics throughout North Carolina, considers Methodist's PA Program a significant value and resource when opening a new rural clinic or taking on additional staff with each clinic's continued success local patients.

Urgent Cares of America's President and CEO, Jason Williams himself is a graduate of Methodist University, and now serves on the board of Trustees. “Methodist PAs are strategically important to us as a top-tier resource for new qualified care providers in our clinics,” said Williams.

Through UCA's Physician Assistant Scholarship Program, successful graduates of Methodist's PA Program frequently become part of UCA's Clinical Rotation staff.

For the WRAL article on Physicians assistants becoming backbone of primary care, click HERE .

For more information on Urgent Cares of America and Raleigh Urgent Care Network, please click HERE .

May 18. 2010:

Fuquay Urgent Care Partners with the American Belarussian Relief Organization

Fuquay Urgent Care, a member of Urgent Cares of America, based in Clayton, NC will be partnering for a fourth year with the local American Belarussian Relief Organization (ABRO) in Fuquay to provide ancillary medical support to visiting Belarus children.

From June 9th through July 21st, Fuquay Baptist Church families will be hosting the local Belarus children in their homes in an effort to decrease the children's exposure to radiation damage in Chernobyl due to a nuclear power plant incident in April 1986. The children will be physically and medically cared for during their short stay in the United States.

Fuquay Urgent Care is one of many local businesses that Partner with non-profit organization ABRO to provide medical attention, including dentists, optometrists and other specialists. Many of these children have known medical conditions as a result of the radiation exposure including Leukemia and Hodgkin's disease, and suppressed immune systems.

For anyone interested in hosting a child from Belarus please contact the main ABRO office to be connected to your local satellite location. American Belarussian Relief Organization

May 5, 2010:

Urgent Cares of America, based in Clayton, NC will be expanding its executive staff due to growth and success of their urgent care clinics in the Ashville, Boone, Cary, Clayton, Fuquay, Hendersonville, Wake Forest, Raleigh and other developing locations.

*    Nena Reeves, Director of Business Development. Ms. Reeves has extensive experience in the healthcare industry, including owning a statewide healthcare company, human resources, and credentialing with government agencies. Ms Reeves' focus will be credentialing with third party payers as well as existing system improvement and new process development.

*    Reuel Heyden, Director of Community Relations. Mr. Heyden has an extensive background in public relations and marketing in the hospitality, commercial development and association industries. Mr. Heyden's focus will be building and maintaining strong grass roots efforts, social media, community relationships, marketing, and communication strategies.

*    Ginger Gregory, Billing Manager. With an extensive background of medical knowledge, Ms Gregory will oversee all operations of the billing team to continue to provide quality service to new guests in new areas. Ms. Gregory's focus will be on proper billing procedures for accuracy with patient accounts. Her aim is to increase efficiency and decrease patient billing errors.

*    Casey Thomas, IT Specialist. With nine (9) locations and growing, UCA utilizes the most up-to-date technologies to operate. Mr. Thomas will be the in-house specialist, overseeing computer, printers, scanners, digital x-ray, internet, phone systems inventory as well as other information technology. With expertise in monthly maintenance as a proactive approach, Mr. Thomas will reduce system downtimes and inefficiency.

March 22, 2010:

Raleigh Urgent Care Network, the premiere network of several Urgent Care and Family Practice facilities in the Raleigh area, is excited to announce the grand opening of our newest facility in Hendersonville on Saturday, April 3, 2010 at 9:00am.
Our newest facility, Hendersonville Urgent Care, is conveniently located at 825 Spartanburg Highway in the Brooklyn Village Shopping Center.  The clinic phone number is 828-233-1664, and FAX is 828-233-1668.
Hendersonville Urgent Care will specialize in the following medical services:

*    Non-emergent care of sprains, strains, fractures, cuts, colds, flu, pink-eye, and other mild to moderate illnesses.
*    On-Site Digital X-Ray.
*    Sports Physicals, Routine and DOT Physicals.
*    Pre-Employment Services, Including Physicals, Drug & Alcohol Screening, X-Ray Services, and Lab Work.

Hendersonville Urgent Care will be open seven (7) days a week during the following hours:

No appointment necessary.

Care at Hendersonville Urgent Care will be provided by Ossie Alvarez, RN, PA-C, Practice Manager, and Dr. Anna Harrelson, M.D., Medical Director:

About Ossie Alvarez, RN, PA-C:  Practice Manager
Ossie Alvarez began his medical career in 1984 as an Army Medic with 11th Special Forces Group in Miami, Florida. After his enlistment he attended Miami-Dade Community College to obtain his RN in an accelerated Nursing program where he graduated in 1991 on the Deans' list. He then attended the Physician Assistant program at the prestigious Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA where he graduated on the Deans' list in 1997.  Upon graduating the PA program in Philadelphia and passing his National Boards, he worked predominately in Emergency Medicine with training and practice experience in Cardiology, Interventional Radiology, and Urgent Care. He has served as Adjunct Faculty and is a founding faculty member of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicines (PCOM) Physician Assistant program. In addition, he has educated students for PCOM, Hahnemann University, and South University Physician Assistant program during their clinical rotations.
Ossie has now been practicing as a Physician Assistant for 12 years. He is fluent in English and Spanish. His approach to caring for his patients is simple: he loves and treats all of his patients as if they are part of his family.  Prior to coming to Asheville Urgent Care, Ossie previously practiced as both an Interventional Radiology PA for Asheville Radiology Associates and as the Mid-Level Provider Supervisor for Sisters of Mercy Urgent Cares in Asheville.
Ossie and his family have lived in Weaverville for three years and they're excited to be practicing in the area again.  

About Anna Harrelson, M.D.:  Medical Director

Dr. Harrelson has served the Asheville/Hendersonville community since 2006 as a Resident at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC), and later as a Physician at both Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care and a Hospitalist at the TST Medical Group at Pardee Hospital.  She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Medical Academy.  In addition to her regular duties, Dr. Harrelson also served as a member of the Mission Hospital Code Blue Committee from 2006-2009.

January 27, 2010:

CLAYTON URGENT CARE PROVIDES SUPPLIES AND EXPERTISE

TO HAITI DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS

(Clayton, N.C.) - Clayton Urgent Care (11491 US Hwy 70 W, Clayton) has recently partnered with several Clayton area church and business leaders to donate $8,000 in medicines and medical supplies to Haitian earthquake relief efforts.  Clayton Urgent Care is serving as a conduit to obtain various discounted and donated medicines and supplies, including broad spectrum antibiotics, IV supplies, splints, crutches, and more.  Clinic staff was also consulted to determine the types of medicines and supplies needed in the disaster area.

“For the last few years, several members of our staff made medical mission trips to Burkina Faso, Africa - one of the poorest nations on the planet,” says Cameron Perkins, Urgent Cares of America chief operations officer and partner in Clayton Urgent Care.  “Our experiences there have taught us exactly what medicines and supplies are needed when no infrastructure exists to provide these items.  We are therefore in a unique position to help provide both supplies and guidance to local Haitian relief efforts, and we are privileged to help in this regard.”

 The supplies, which are currently en route to Haiti, will be delivered via a volunteer fleet of private pilots from North Carolina to Florida organized by Raleigh-based Bahamas Habitat. Supplies will then be distributed by Horne Memorial United Methodist Church to an orphanage and its surrounding community of Bon Repos.

Mr. Jim Lee of Clayton-based Walthom Group, the ringleader for much of the donation effort, felt a call to action when he heard that a Clayton missionary was in Port Au Prince during the earthquake.  Knowing that the Clayton community would quickly rally to help this individual in her efforts to aid Haiti, Lee began planning to deliver supplies as quickly as possible.

“Cameron Perkins and I worked on a business deal recently, and when the need arose for medical supplies I naturally thought of him,” said Lee.  “His advice and expertise has been invaluable. We can save hundreds of lives with the supplies that Clayton Urgent Care has helped provide, and we are extremely grateful for their assistance.”

Funding for the effort has come from several sources, including the Clayton Rotary Club, which has donated thousands of dollars for plane fuel and other supplies.

Additionally, medicines and other items have been supplied by the following groups:

-       Mark Root / SME:  an orthopedic supply company, donated crutches and splinting material

-       Henry Schein Medical Supplies/Scott Dekeyser

Groups or individuals interested in donating to the relief efforts are encouraged to do so through Bahamas Habitat (www.bahamashabitat.org), or by e-mailing Don Buckner of the Clayton Rotary Club at donb@roxboro.net.