Northwestern's Immediate Care Clinic to the Rescue

On a recent Sunday at 4 p.m., long after our pediatrician's walk-in hours ended, my teenage daughter mentioned her ear pain. She'd been talking about it all week, and I'd been hoping it might subside. Unfortunately, it had only gotten worse.

At this point, I had three options: the Target Clinic, the Walgreen's Take Care clinic, or the emergency room. The first two were also closed, and I dreaded the thought of a long wait in the E.R. 

And then I remembered a billboard I'd seen on Green Bay Road for the new Northwestern Immediate Care clinic, across from the movie theater where Borders Books used to be. 

In less time it takes for a 30-minute parking meter to expire, my daughter was seen by a doctor, diagnosed with an ear infection, and back in the car with a prescription for an antibiotic. 

The website lists the following common conditions treated at the clinic:

• Allergy
• Fever
• Animal Bites
• Athlete's Foot
• Asthma
• Flu or flu like symptoms
• Bee/Insect/Spider bites
• Irritations
• Colds
• Nausea
• Cuts/lacerations
• Poison ivy/oak
• Congestion
• Pink eye
• Foreign body in eye/ear or nose
• Rash
• Cough
• Sinus infection
• Burns, including sun burn
• Sunburn
• Diarrhea
• Sore throat
• Sprains/strains
• Warts
• Ear ache
• Urinary tract infection
• Sutures

I can't say enough about how easy the whole process was. In fact, I took to Facebook to share our experience at this new addition to Evanston: 

Evanston residents: Northwestern Immediate Care (across from the movie theater) is fantastic. In and out in 25 minutes on a Sunday evening with antibiotic prescription in hand for [my daughter’s] ear infection. Open EVERY DAY 8am to 8pm. Whether you have insurance or not, it's available to all.

The replies, as you’ll see, included praise for the clinic mixed with a healthy dose (get it?) of cynicism: 

--Also -big plus - at urgent care you're seen by doctors; there are doctors available....a lot of the walgreens/target/etc clinics have no doctors available....

--Northshore Evanston Hospital is shutting down it's hospital site pediatric clinic after 50 years.. Is that what 504 3c status allows? Not on the radar screen but very outrageous in my opinion. 

--Agree completely! I had a bad splinter removed there under my nail and the dr could not have been funnier or nicer! Went Sat at 6pm with no wait.

--great dr's there and upstairs at NMPG! Glad they finally came to Evanston. Have been my Dr's for over 25 years. 

--Is it sliding scale if you have no insurance?

I replied: 

--I just called to ask. Here's what the billing dept told me: they will not turn anyone away; for those w/o insurance, they offer a 25% discount on service; if unable to pay that, they offer financial assistance. It's a one-time set of paperwork to verify income which then allows you access to care at the clinic for 1 year. Hope that helps. Another great option will be the new healthcare facility [Erie Family Health Center] going in on dempster west of dodge.

To which the commenter responded: 

--Thanks for checking…although 25% off on medical bills isnt going to make a big difference Half off would be the reasonable offer. I have seen zero improvements in the health care system that help me or anyone I know. Smoke and mirrors I say.

Then more replies: 

--I also had a great experience there - highly recommend.

--ERs for rich people?

--Yes, we were very well taken care of there when we had an eye emergency--got triaged and a same-day referral to an ophthalmologist. 

What are your thoughts on this medical option? Would you use it? Why or why not? How do you think Obamacare will affect Evanston’s healthcare options?