By Michelle Caceres
When Brandon resident, Edwin Zayas, found himself in need of emergency medical care, he decided to avoid the long wait time in the emergency room, instead visiting 1st Care Medical, a local urgent care center. Zayas was skeptical that the center could provide effective treatment in a timely manner. His experience made him a believer.
“I’ve always used my primary doctor or the hospital emergency room but at 1st Care Medical I was taken right back,” said Zayas. “I was in and out in less than an hour.”
Located at 799 W. Lumsden Rd. in Oak Park Plaza, the center, owned by Drs. David Halpern and Jose Dominguez, Jr., is a full-service urgent care center that treats non-life threatening conditions.
Open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, the center treats patients with everything from a runny nose to dislocated joints, from skin tag removal to broken bones. Services provided also include pregnancy tests, x-rays, EKGs, basic blood and urine tests, throat cultures, abscess care, splinting and casting, stitching and foreign body removal.
“Our goal is to be there when your regular doctor can’t,” said center administrator Jamie Lowrance. “We deal with things happening right now.”
Lowrance said at the center patients will be seen and treated so they can begin their recovery quickly.
Zayas says he now feels great but knows where he’ll go if another emergency arises. “I always thought urgent care centers weren’t for me, but the next time I find myself in need of emergency care, I’ll be going back to 1st Care Medical.”
1st Care Medical accepts all insurance plans and networks; copayments or deductibles will be collected during your visit. Self-pay pricing is also available for those without insurance; cash, checks and credit and debit cards are accepted. Treatment for common illnesses starts at $95. Fees may be higher, depending on the need for additional tests and procedures, as well as the complexity and length of your visit.
Visit www.1stCareMed.com or call 684-1199.
