Methodist Hospitals’ CareFirst Immediate Care Centers have come in at number two in Northwest Indiana in two separate reader polls this year. Being a leader in the immediate care space is no small feat and takes a wide array of capabilities to accomplish.
Deborah Curless, a nurse practitioner at Methodist Hospitals, shared that CareFirst Immediate Care Centers implement the best technical resources available to ensure quality care. This starts with using the best electronic medical records available so that the Immediate Care Centers can connect with other facilities’ medical records for an accurate, comprehensive medical history for every patient.
On the patient end of this technology, Methodist’s immediate care centers are easy to navigate through the MyChart patient portal.
Beyond communication technology, CareFirst Immediate Care Centers offer X-rays and rapid site testing for COVID-19, influenza, strep throat, mononucleosis, and more.
“We also have modern X-ray capabilities on-site with skilled, certified techs allowing us to diagnose patients quickly and accurately. This service is communicated electronically to our main hospital where our radiologists interpret our X-rays within the timeframe of the visit,” Curless said.
While having the right equipment enables Methodist CareFirst Centers to offer a variety of care, having the right people to run that equipment and add that personal touch helps us stand out from other immediate care and urgent care options.
At Curless’s location, there are two providers, and together, they have a combined 45 years of experience. Add to that number the assistant’s experience, and they have a total of 61 years of experience at that location alone.
The excellence of the Methodist Hospitals’ staff extends to each of its Immediate Care Centers, which are also supported by the strong network of Methodist Physician Group physicians.
“Methodist operates like a family; we work together. We look at our treatments not from the business perspective, but from the aspect of providing care in the best interest of the patient,” Curless said. “We practice medicine based on the most current evidence and follow up on our care to be sure the patients continue on their road to recovery.”
Despite all the other immediate care and urgent care options in the Region, the community oftenturns to Methodist Hospitals’ CareFirst Immediate Care Centers because of their legacy of commitment to connecting with patients.
“The fact that we have just four locations among a large number of competing facilities speaks to the compassionate and patient-centered care we provide and how happy our community is with our services,” Curless said. “I also think that our presence in Northwest Indiana for 100 years now shows our ongoing commitment to our mission, which is to provide quality, compassionate health services to all those in need. When you’ve been a pillar in the community for 100 years, I think people tend to trust that.”
To learn more about Methodist Hospitals, visit https://methodisthospitals.org/.
