Health Notes: Two Harbors gets urgent-care clinic

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Lake County residents asked for it, and soon they’ll have it: urgent-care services without having to drive to Duluth.

Our friends at the Lake County News-Chronicle report that Lake View Hospital in Two Harbors will open an urgent-care clinic early this summer. It is expected to operate seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., although the hours may be tweaked depending on patient demand.

Brian Carlson, president and CEO of the hospital, said consumer demand led to the decision to offer urgent care. The opening date hasn’t been determined.

Urgent-care centers offer treatment for minor illness and injuries that aren’t so severe that the patient needs to receive care in the emergency department. Urgent-care services often are used when a patient might have to wait a couple of days before seeing a family physician.

Depending on a patient’s insurance plan, urgent-care services can sometimes be less expensive than a trip to the emergency room. When a patient comes in, a nurse will determine whether the patient needs urgent care or emergency room care.

The urgent-care unit will be in the emergency department of the hospital, which is on county Highway 2 in Two Harbors. The hospital is expected to add two or three positions to its staff, the News-Chronicle reported.

Tags: two harbors, lake county, news, health