Southbridge-based Harrington HealthCare System is the latest Central Massachusetts provider to enter the urgent care business, announcing Tuesday that it will open an urgent care center in Charlton.
The center, which will be called UrgentCare Express at Harrington, is expected to open in September, according to a statement.
Offering walk-in medical care for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses, UrgentCare Express will be located on the second level inside the Harrington HealthCare at Charlton building at 10 North Main St. 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.
Kristin Morales, executive director of Harrington Physician Services, said the system is “responding to the growing demand for urgent care centers.”
“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 said.
Other health care providers that recently opened urgent care centers in Central Massachusetts include UMass Memorial Health Care, which this month opened two sites in Worcester in partnership with CareWell Urgent Care of Quincy, as well as Reliant Medical Group, which operates ReadyMED urgent care clinics in Auburn, Hudson, Milford and Shrewsbury. It’s planning to open another in Worcester later this year.
Meanwhile, the Central Massachusetts Independent Physicians Association has partnered with urgent care franchise Doctors Express to offer urgent care services to patients of its members. Two locations are expected to open this summer.
