PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson Healthcare hospital has opened a walk-in clinic to treat minor medical problems.
The new facility at 1274 Seventh St. — half a block from the Sheridan Street intersection — has treated at least 10 patients daily since it opened Tuesday.
It is intended to provide more convenient and inexpensive service than the hospital emergency room, said Jefferson Healthcare CEO Paula Dowdle.
“We want to provide an alternative to the emergency room for patients with minor injuries and ailments,” Dowdle said.
“If you have hurt your ankle and are not sure if it is sprained or broken, we can fix you up,” she said.
“If it’s something we can’t fix easily, we’ll send them to the ER across the street.”
The walk-in clinic is flexible in a number of ways.
It is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week with no appointments necessary, has four examination rooms along with a portable X-ray machine and accepts insurance, check, credit cards and cash.
Three professionals, a physician’s assistant, a nurse practitioner and a doctor are assigned to the facility, with at least one on duty at all times.
The clinic specializes in treating upper respiratory infections, sore throats, earaches, allergies, burns, nausea and other ailments.
Dowdle said she does not expect the clinic to make much of a profit, but hopes it will at least break even.
For more information, phone 360-379-0477.
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Jefferson County reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
