Genesis makes changes to urgent care centers

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- Expect changes on your next trip to one area urgent care center.

Genesis HealthCare System  made adjustments to their FirstCare centers with plans to improve patient experience as a whole. This transition is reflected by lowered copayments and consolidated billing.

Dr. John Zimmerman, medical director of the emergency department and president of the medical staff at Genesis Hospital, said these changes were a result of feedback they received.

“Genesis transitioned [from] what had been an urgent center to basically a walk-in primary care center and that was to accomplish two things; one was to help improve access and the other was primarily to make it more affordable,” said Zimmerman.

The transition from an urgent care center to a primary care facility allows patients the same lower copay options as they would have for their primary care facility, with the walk-in convenience of an urgent care center, according to Zimmerman.

The billing consolidation will create a more affordable option as opposed to receiving separate bills from radiology or X-ray services.

“A lot of the insurance companies were not providing copays for the patients so the patient actually had a higher out of pocket, or they ended up being responsible for the entire bill itself instead of being able to work it as a primary care office,” said Zimmerman.

Both Genesis FirstCare facilities, located on Maple Avenue and Maysville Pike, accept all insurance. Operating hours are 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily with no appointment necessary.

Zimmerman said the FirstCare facilities do not aim to take patients away from their primary care physician. He stressed the importance of maintaining an ongoing relationship with primary care doctors.