FastCare Clinic Launched At Jewel-Osco

Northwest Community Healthcare launched its first FastCare Monday, Oct. 3, inside , 423 E. Dundee Rd.

FastCare is a patient care clinic that offers walk-in treatments for a variety of common ailments, a press release from NCH states.

NCH FastCare provides treatments for allergies, ear infections, small cuts and burns, rashes, bruises, cold and flu symptoms, sinus pain, sore throats and other minor illnesses and injuries. Lab services are available for pregnancy tests, monospots, rapid strep, TB skin tests and urinalysis.

Care is provided by nurse practitioners and physician assistants under the guidance of NCH Medical Group physicians. The cost is just $59 per visit, and the patient’s insurance provider can be billed.

“We know that nearly half of the people in our community don’t have a primary care physician, and many are without health insurance as well,” stated Michael Hartke, executive vice president of Clinics and Regional Services at NCH. “It’s an affordable option that gets people feeling better quickly, with maximum convenience.”

The hours of NCH FastCare are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Holiday hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the clinic is closed on Christmas Day.

“The primary difference between our new facility and other retail health clinics is a direct link to the comprehensive NCH system of care,” Hartke stated in a press release. “FastCare will utilize the same electronic medical record system as the NCH Medical Group and eventually of our immediate care centers. This enables doctors to coordinate a patient’s care regardless of the facility the patient chooses to access.”

NCH FastCare is a pilot program in partnership with Wisconsin-based Bellin Health, which established FastCare retail health clinics in 2006 and has 56 in operation or under construction in 13 states. The Palatine Jewel-Osco location is the only NCH FastCare planned at this time.

“We’ll evaluate the facility’s performance and determine its value to the community before considering additional sites,” Hartke stated.

Community members with questions about the medical services provided at NCH FastCare should call the clinic at 847-725-8620. More information on hospital services can be found at www.nch.org.