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March 2, 2023
UMass Memorial Health – Harrington Opens New Urgent Care Express in Southbridge

SOUTHBRIDGE, MA, March, 2 2023 – UMass Memorial Health – Harrington (UMHH) has opened a new Urgent Care Express at Harrington clinic at 164 South Street in Southbridge. The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed on weekends).

The clinic is staffed by Harrington Physician Services providers including mid-level clinicians, skilled nurses, and medical assistants, and is equipped to treat a wide range of urgent but non-life-threatening medical conditions such as: fevers, flu-like symptoms, bronchitis, strep throat, and sinus infections; minor cuts that require stitches and minor burns; fractures, sprains, or broken bones; urinary tract infections; ear infections, allergies, asthma, and rashes.

In addition to the new Southbridge location, there is also an Urgent Care Express at Harrington located at 78 Sutton Avenue in Oxford. Both locations currently have a “one visitor” policy in effect, and all patients and visitors are required to wear a surgical or KN95 mask at all times.

Walk-in care is available at Urgent Care Express at Harrington during all hours of operation. For questions about the Urgent Care Express in Southbridge, call (508) 909-8550. For more information, visit harringtonhospital.org.

UMass Memorial Health – Harrington provides outstanding health care to patients in more than 25 communities throughout south central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut. We are dedicated to our role as the health and wellness partner of the people in our communities and we are relentless in the pursuit of healing. Our comprehensive array of health care services and locations provides our patients with unparalleled access to care.  Harrington Hospital in Southbridge provides medical and surgical inpatient care, 24-hour emergency services, inpatient adult psychiatry, an intensive care unit and comprehensive outpatient services. Harrington Hospital at Webster, Harrington at Charlton, Harrington at 169 and Harrington at Sturbridge offer primary care and specialty physicians, diagnostic imaging and more. Harrington Physician Services is our primary care and multi-specialty physician group, UrgentCare Express at Harrington in Oxford serves as a walk-in medical center for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, and the Cancer Center at Harrington in Southbridge allows patients to receive advanced, local oncological and hematology care. Visit www.ummhealth.org/harrington.

 www.harringtonhospital.org

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August 27, 2017
Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room: Which One Do I Need?

What’s wrong?

It’s important to assess why you aren’t feeling well before any decision is made. Are you panicked that something might be seriously wrong with your body or mental state, or are you just uncomfortable? We recommend that you visit UrgentCare Express for any non-life-threatening complications when your primary care is not available.

We’re here for allergy complications, colds, coughs, ear pain, or flu-like symptoms, headaches or migraines, minor asthma complications, minor burns or lacerations, and minor sprains or strains.

Other common reasons patients visit an urgent care center include pinkeye, rashes on the body or face, sinus infections, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, sore throats, and urinary tract infections.

Basically, if it is something that you would normally go to see your primary care physician for, then you can visit UrgentCare Express at Harrington. We are a walk-in clinic open seven days per week, so no appointment is ever necessary.

At UrgentCare Express, you will be seen by one of our skilled providers. You will have access to laboratory services and diagnostic imaging on-site, which means you never have to leave the building.

Should I go to the Emergency Room instead?

You should be aware of the signs and symptoms that mean a trip to the Emergency Room is critical. These signs include:

• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Trauma or injury due to an accident or a fall
• Severe shortness or breath or chest pain
• Sudden on-set weakness in the face or body
• Suicidal or homicidal feelings
• Uncontrollable pain or bleeding

What time is it?

UrgentCare Express is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Whether you are coming in with a cold after work or seeking poison ivy relief on a weekend, we’ve got you covered.

If it is after these hours and you don’t think you can make it until 9 a.m. the next day, then you should visit the ER. Harrington’s Emergency Care Centers in Webster and Southbridge and all emergency rooms are open 24/7.

 Where are you?

UrgentCare Express at Harrington has two locations in Charlton and Oxford, making it convenient for most residents in South Central Worcester County.

If you are experiencing a non-life-threatening injury or illness, and cannot get a hold of your primary care provider, you should try urgent care first. UrgentCare is a better (and less expensive) option that will most likely be a predictably shorter wait than in an ER for minor health issues.

How would you like to pay?

At UrgentCare Express, we accept all major health insurance plans, as do both of our Emergency Care Centers. Typically, as mentioned above, seeing an urgent care provider is less expensive than coming into an ER. It is important to remember that many insurance providers will not cover ER visits if they are considered to be “non-emergency.” However, you should not hesitate to go to the emergency room or call 911 if you think you are displaying symptoms of a life-threatening or serious condition.

April 10, 2017
UrgentCare Express Offers Online Check-In

SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass. – Patients looking for care at UrgentCare Express at Harrington can now make a reservation online. The organization has implemented a new online check-in program at harringtonexpress.com.

Patients can hold their place in line and reserve a spot to be seen at either of Harrington’s urgent care locations — 10 North Main Street in Charlton or 78 Sut­ton Avenue in Oxford.

“Providing online check-in gives our patients peace of mind, knowing they won’t need to worry as much about their wait time when they arrive,” explained Aretha Still, director of operations at Harrington Physician Services.

Urgent care traffic is typically busiest first thing in the morning or 1-2 hours before closing. Using the online check-in will give visitors flexibility in selecting a time where patient volume is lower, which saves them time. The service is free for patients to use.

Online check-in is not a guarantee and UrgentCare Express does stress that sicker patients will be seen first. When using the online scheduling service, patients will re­ceive an email with detailed instructions that include how to reschedule or cancel their appointment.

Both UrgentCare Express locations are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information and a complete list of frequently asked questions, visit UrgentCare Express at Harrington.

November 11, 2016
Harrington’s Second Urgent Care Location Announces Opening for Patient Care

OXFORD, Mass. November 11, 2016 – Harrington HealthCare System has announced its newest UrgentCare Express location at 78 Sutton Avenue in Oxford will open for patient care Monday, November 21. This is the second urgent care location for Harrington, which opened its Charlton location in September 2015.

Located across from Market Basket, Home Depot and the Oxford Retail Crossing Plaza, UrgentCare Express in Oxford will have the same hours of operation as the Charlton site: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Oxford location includes 11 patient exam rooms, on-site X-ray for patients who need immediate imaging services and a lab draw station for blood work.

The November 21 official opening will follow a community open house for the public held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 19. Local residents are invited to tour the facility, meet staff and receive educational material.

“We are continuing to respond to the growing demand in our area for urgent care centers,” said Kristin Morales, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Harrington Physician Services. “Our Charlton practice has surpassed all projected volumes in the past year. By adding a second facility in Oxford, we are fulfilling a need in a community where there isn’t a lot of option for non-emergency care treatment, while giving the residents in that area better access to high-quality health care.”

Dr. Robert McCarron, a board-certified physician with more than 30 years’ experience in emergency care settings, will be the lead physician on staff, with support from a number of physician assistants and other board-certified physicians.

Dr. Josh Flanagan, a board-certified physician at Harrington’s Emergency Departments in Southbridge and Webster, is the medical director for Harrington’s UrgentCare Express.

UrgentCare Express treats patients of all ages for non-life-threatening conditions, including but not limited to:

• Allergies or asthma
• Bronchitis
• Burns
• Minor cuts that require stitches
• Ear infections
• Fevers and flu
• Minor fractures, sprains, or broken bones
• Pinkeye
• Rashes
• Sinus infections
• Strep throat
• Urinary tract infections

UrgentCare Express accepts most major health insurances. For more information, visit www.harringtonexpress.com

August 11, 2015
Board-Certified Emergency Physicians Join UrgentCare Express at Harrington

CHARLTON, Mass. – August 10, 2015 – Harrington HealthCare has named three board-certified physicians who will work at its recently announced urgent care center. Dr. Mary-Elise Smith and Dr. Kathy Finn have joined UrgentCare Express at Harrington as staff physicians, and Dr. Josh Flanagan has been named Medical Director.

The urgent care center, which will provide walk-in medical care for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses, is scheduled to open in September. It will be located inside the Harrington HealthCare at Charlton building at 10 North Main Street.

“It is important that we offer our patients the best quality of care possible,” said Kristin Morales, Executive Director of Harrington Physician Services, Harrington’s primary care and multidisciplinary group. “To do this, we are staffing UrgentCare Express with board-certified emergency physicians. Not all urgent care is created equal, and we believe that our doctors will make the difference.”­­­­

Dr. Smith is currently employed at UMass Memorial Medical Center as an Attending Physician in its Emergency Medical Department and is also the director of its Emergency Preparedness Education and Training program, and the Division of Disaster Medicine & Emergency Management.  She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Sciences and a Doctorate of Medicine, both from New York University, as well as a Masters in Disaster and Emergency Management from American Military University in Charles Town, West Virginia. She also completed an Emergency Medicine residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Smith is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine and has won numerous honors and awards, including “Woman of Distinction” from Girls Scouts of America.

Dr. Kathy Finn has been with Harrington for several years as an Attending Physician in the Harrington Emergency Departments (in Southbridge and Webster) and the Harrington Wound Care Center. She has a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Adelphia University in Garden City, NY and a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from the University of Osteopathic Medicine at Des Moines. She also completed an Emergency Medicine residency at Geisinger Medical Center in Philadelphia. She is Board Certified in Emergency Medicine and is certified in in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

In addition to his role as Medical Director, Dr. Flanagan will continue working in the Harrington Emergency Departments as well as serve as one of the on-site physicians at the new urgent care center. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Middlebury College in Vermont as well as a Doctorate of Medicine from UMass Medical School, where he also did his residency in Emergency Medicine. He is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

July 21, 2015
Urgent Care Center to Open in Charlton in September

Harrington HealthCare System continues its community expansion with UrgentCare Express at Harrington.  Construction is underway, and the new urgent care center is scheduled to open this September in Charlton, Mass.

The center, which will provide walk-in medical care for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses, will be located on the second level inside the existing Harrington HealthCare at Charlton building at 10 North Main Street. This building also houses diagnostic imaging services, Harrington’s Wound Care Center, and Harrington Physician Services, Harrington’s primary care and multi-specialty physician group.

“We are responding to the growing demand for urgent care centers,” said Kristin Morales, Executive Director of Harrington Physician Services. “This service bridges the gap between primary care and the emergency room. It also gives patients the option of being seen after-hours or on the weekend.”

Morales also differentiated urgent care from retail “minute clinics,” which only treat minor illnesses, such as a cold or sore throat, and do not have access to labs or imaging services.

“We want to accommodate patients with many options, and urgent care is often the most convenient and appropriate solution,” she said.

Harrington currently has emergency departments at its main campus in Southbridge and at the Remillard Family Emergency Department in Webster.

“It’s clear that the trend toward urgent care will continue to grow, as patients value the convenience and personalization the service offers, as well as lower costs compared to the ER,” said Ed Moore, Harrington President & CEO. “But not all urgent care is created equal, and we believe that our doctors will make the difference.”

Dr. Mary-Elise Smith, currently an Attending Physician in the Emergency Department at UMass Memorial Medical Center, and Dr. Kathy Finn, currently an Attending Physician at both Harrington Emergency Departments, will primarily provide the physician staffing, and Dr. Josh Flanagan, also currently a physician at both Harrington’s Emergency Departments, has been named Medical Director.

“It is important that we offer our patients the best quality of care possible,” said Morales. “To do this, we are staffing UrgentCare Express with board-certified emergency physicians, which is often not the case at other urgent care centers where patients are seen by nurses or medical technicians.  Additionally, we will provide integrated patient care with primary care physicians and many other services in our system.”

Morales also explained that Harrington will be able to utilize the radiology and lab services that are already present in the Harrington at Charlton building.

“Prior to proceeding with this initiative, we conducted a needs assessment that articulated the need for urgent care in the Charlton area,” said Moore. “By establishing UrgentCare Express in this Charlton building, we will fill this gap and offer this key service to patients in many surrounding areas.”

Moore said he expects the volume to be around 8,000 patients in the first year and that it will increase beyond that in years to come.

He added, “UrgentCare Express is a logical next step for us in our ongoing expansion of services and facilities throughout our area.”

UrgentCare Express will accept all major health insurances and treat non-life-threatening conditions, including but not limited to:

• Allergies or asthma
• Bronchitis
• Burns
• Cuts that require stitches
• Ear infections
• Fevers and flu
• Headaches
• Minor fractures, sprains, or broken bones
• Pinkeye
• Rashes
• Sinus infections
• Stomach ailments
• Strep throat
• Urinary tract infections

In September, Harrington plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and an open house to provide tours of the facility to the public. Dates for these events will be announced.