Care is Now Closer to Home with New ExpressCare Clinic in Howard County

BRANDED CONTENT, REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES OF HOWARD COUNTY-- Regional Health Services of Howard County opens ExpressCare Clinic inside Cresco Medical Clinic, offering more accessible and affordable care. Need to make sure your child can return to school tomorrow or want a quick check-up after work? Regional Health Services of Howard County's new ExpressCare Clinic inside the Cresco Medical Clinic now offers walk-in services for community members who need urgent care at a price that fits their budget. Patients pay a regular clinic visit fee instead of a higher urgent care fee, which can sometimes approach the cost of a hospital bill. In most cases, patients pay about the same as their co-pay, making care more accessible to families in Northeast Iowa. "We've done community surveys for about a year now, and express care continues to come up as one of the top things needed," explained Jennalee Pedretti, Vice President of Operations at Regional Health Services of Howard County. "We also want to make sure our community members don't have to travel far to get care." Because ExpressCare operates within a clinic, it can offer urgent care at lower prices while still providing essential services. Staff can address concerns that may only require a quick swab, lab test or x-ray, and can also provide take-home medications. The goal is to give patients peace of mind and access to care outside regular clinic hours. "You can walk into our clinic after hours to be seen for the acute things, like rashes," she added. "The unique thing about us is that we're very cost effective, and we did that so our community members aren't seeing an express care fee that is just below the cost of an ER visit." Services Offered ExpressCare is open Monday through Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., and on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to noon. It will be closed on Christmas Day. Patients should use the Cresco Medical Clinic parking lot and entrance. ExpressCare can provide for a variety of urgent but non-emergency conditions, including: Respiratory/Chest Concerns Cough Congestion Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat Conditions Pink eye Stye Ear infections or ear pain Swimmer's ear Earwax impaction Sore throat Toothache Urinary Tract Concerns Uncomplicated bladder infection (UTI) Uncomplicated sexually transmitted infections STI/STD testing and treatment Musculoskeletal Problems Sprains and strains without deformity Skin/Scalp Problems Simple rash or sores Minor burns Simple abscesses Minor lacerations Other Concerns Fever (infants and children over 3 months) Strep testing COVID-19 testing Sports physicals To learn more about ExpressCare services, call 563-547-2022 or visit the Cresco Medical Clinic website. Branded Content produced by Regional Health Services of Howard County.