Making Access to Healthcare Easier for Everyone

Illness and injury seldom strike at the right place, and never at the right time. A child may develop a high fever after normal clinic hours, or an injury that needs immediate attention may happen when you’re across town, away from your regular healthcare provider.

Odessa Regional Medical Center is aware of these issues and has partnered with Permian Premier to create more convenient options for healthcare in the area.

“We have been working to expand our footprint through access points in various areas of the community,” said Stacey Gerig, CEO of Odessa Regional. “We want to make it more convenient for patients to come to our facilities rather than having to resort to the emergency room.”

On October 10, ORMC opened Complete Care Urgent Care in Midland. The new clinic takes both scheduled appointments and walk-ins. X-rays and labs are available.

“Watch for upcoming events to introduce the new Midland facility,” said Betty Harrold, Business Development Director. “We’re planning a drive-through flu vaccination day. We’ll bring the consent forms right to your car window, so that you can sign the form, get your vaccination and be on your way.”

Also planned are a cholesterol-screening day and a glucose-screening day, Harrold said.

The After Hours Pediatric Clinic on ORMC west campus at the corner of 5th and Muskingum opened in 2009. Formerly the Odessa Regional Emergency Room location, the facility is easy to access and well suited for use as an after-hours clinic.

“You never know when a child will come down with something — the cold, flu or strep,” Harrold said. “Previously, a parent’s only option was to take the child to the ER – not exactly suited for the purpose. The After Hours Pediatric Clinic provides a more appropriate setting for children, saves the parent the expense of the ER and relieves congestion in the emergency room where patients need to be helped as quickly as possible.”

The After Hours Pediatric Clinic is staffed by board-certified pediatrician Dr. Jay Park, nurse practitioners and registered nurses.

“The clinic is also a hit with pediatricians because they’re able to schedule their vacations and workflow knowing that someone will be there to take care of their patients if needed,” commented Rhonda Lewallen, Director of Marketing and Community Relations. “Information from the patient’s visit is forwarded to the patient’s primary care provider.”

ORMC has expanded services in two other widespread locations. The Eastridge Clinic at Mission Estates opened in 2008, and the West Loop Clinic, formerly the Wallace Clinic, opened in 2010. Both clinics offer family practice with X-ray and lab facilities.

Both the West Loop Clinic and Urgent Care offer occupational medicine.

“A healthy employee is a productive employee, and employers are now taking a proactive stance to make sure employees stay productive,” said Levi Stone, Chief Nursing Officer at ORMC. “The clinics offer access to pre-employment screenings and take care of on-the-job injuries. Our lab facilities allow us to do the screenings locally, which takes far less time than having to send away, possibly out of state, for the results.”

All ORMC locations accept Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and self-pay.