BERLIN, MD – The Atlantic General Hospital and Health System has announced an agreement with the Rite Aid Corporation to open Atlantic ImmediCare clinics inside three Rite Aid stores this fall.
The clinics, which will be in Ocean Pines and Pocomoke City, Md., and Millsboro, Del., will provide extended hours for care in the evening and on weekends.
"This is an exciting partnership ... in that our Atlantic ImmediCare relationship will provide expanded access and affordable primary care services throughout our region," said Michael Franklin, president and CEO of Atlantic General Hospital.
Atlantic General Hospital, located in Berlin, Md., is a 62-bed acute care hospital. It has a network of 26 primary care providers and specialists.
At Atlantic ImmediCare, certified nurse practitioners will provide patients with care for common illnesses such as strep throat, ear infections, tick bites, flu, bladder infections, bronchitis and allergies, as well as school and employer physicals, laboratory tests, adult immunizations and health screenings.
"These clinics will supplement the primary care practices we already have in these communities and will be a lower cost option to other types of immediate care," said Franklin. "It also will provide an after-hours and weekend option for care other than the emergency room, which will potentially help lower the cost of healthcare in our region. Those who need additional services beyond what Atlantic ImmediCare provides will have direct access to the diagnostic and specialty treatment services of Atlantic General Hospital."
The Atlantic ImmediCare clinics are open to anyone, but Franklin said they are especially beneficial to those who are already patients of any of the existing providers in the Atlantic General Health System and can't perhaps secure an appointment with their regular provider.
Franklin said Atlantic ImmediCare can provide treatment information to the patient's primary care provider to ensure continuity of care. Because of the affiliation with the hospital and health system, records of Atlantic ImmediCare visits for individuals who are existing patients of an Atlantic General Health System provider will immediately be available to that provider through the electronic medical record, with the patient's permission.
"The Atlantic ImmediCare clinics will complement the medication counseling and care provided by our pharmacists and provide the convenience of high-quality, affordable healthcare services to patients who won't have to wait for an appointment to receive treatment for minor illnesses and get basic medical tests," said Robert Thompson, Rite Aid’s executive vice president of pharmacy.
