Primary care that's truly primary

There is substantial research indicating that most Americans are unhappy with the nation’s healthcare system, with many people describing it as “expensive” or “broken.” The U.S. spends nearly twice per capita on health care compared to the average of other wealthy nations, yet achieves significantly poorer overall health outcomes.

Fewer primary care general practitioners per capita means Americans use the emergency room for non-urgent care at much higher rates than in peer nations. We also often skip needed care because of cost or long wait times.

But there is one Northeast Ohio physician-owned practice dedicated to changing all this.

HealthExpress, founded 12 years ago primarily as an urgent care center, has expanded its services over the years, becoming a popular choice for primary care. In fact, seven of its nine locations now offer high-quality, patient-focused primary care.

“We’ve become successful in primary care because we’ve focused on building a team of talented, caring people,” explains Primary Care Program Director Amber Seel. “This includes excellent providers who are skilled, educated, and truly interested in our philosophy of treating each patient as a person, not as a number. The same is true for our clinical team members and the rest of our staff.”

HealthExpress has also formed key partnerships with insurance companies and sub-care groups to provide a more seamless experience for patients. “If we need to refer you to a specialist, we don’t just give you a name; we set the appointment for you with a quality physician we know shares our values.”

The Human Touch

One of those values is treating patients as human beings, not as numbers. When you enter many traditional medical practices, the receptionist is hidden behind a sliding glass window. When the window opens, you hear:

“Name.”

“Date of birth.”

“Insurance.”

“Have a seat.”

But at HealthExpress, there is no sliding glass window. The lobbies are spacious, and the well-trained receptionists sit at an open counter and ask more detailed questions to better understand why you have come in. You’ll also find flat-screen TVs showing tasteful movies and shows, creative play areas for younger patients, and even inviting fireplaces in some locations.

And while HeathExpress does offer a high-tech patient portal for your convenience, you don’t always have to use it to leave a message for your care team.

“When you call us, you talk with a human, not a robot,” Amber says. “You don’t get lost in a phone tree. You’ll speak with a dedicated care coordinator who is here for you.”

More Time with Your Doctor

The human touch also includes plenty of time with your doctor. “We don’t operate like a revolving door,” says Dr. Katherine Deagan, who leads the HealthExpress team in clinical knowledge. “Our focus is not only on treating symptoms. We’re focused on preventive lifestyle medicine and integrative health, including mental health. Our goal is to empower people to live longer, healthier lives and to get to the root cause of medical conditions. And we can only do that by making sure each patient gets plenty of time with their doctor.”

Dr. Deagan completed her residency in Family Medicine at Methodist Hospitals in Dallas, Texas, and earned a certification in Integrative Medicine from the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.

This patient-centered care also includes helping you save time and avoid the runaround. “That’s why we offer on-site X-rays and blood draws,” Dr. Deagan says. “We don’t have to send you to a lab. We can do those things right in our office while you are already here.”

The Importance of Wellness Visits

As a family practice and urgent care center, HealthExpress offers a wide range of care—from pediatrics to geriatrics. Patients visit for a variety of reasons, including sore throats, fevers, cuts, headaches, nausea, allergic reactions, sprains, fractures, incisions and drainage, respiratory infections and more.

Wellness visits, such as annual physicals and quick, convenient sports and camp physicals for children, are also extremely important. (By the way, because of HealthExpress’s lower overhead and commitment to patients, these services are truly affordable. An adult physical is $60, while a child’s sports or camp physical is $40. The practice’s prices are transparent.)

“As primary care physicians, we focus on preventive care,” Amber adds. “Because of high costs, hassle, or a lack of attention, many people have stopped going to their doctor for wellness visits, even though they’re an important part of managing your care. That’s why we make them easy and affordable. Many people don’t know that insurance companies cover an annual wellness visit. If you have insurance, you get one free visit per year.”

Routine wellness visits help detect silent or developing conditions—such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and depression—earlier than waiting for symptoms to appear. Patients who see a primary care provider regularly are significantly more up to date on vital cancer screenings (such as colonoscopies or mammograms) and immunizations.

Making the Change

If you don’t have a primary care physician, have delayed care, or are unhappy with your current care, know that HealthExpress is currently accepting new primary care patients at seven of its nine locations. Simply call a participating location near you or visit HealthExpressUC.com to book an appointment online. The practice can often accommodate same-day or next-day appointments.

HealthExpress Urgent Care and Primary Care

• 445 Avon Belden Rd., Avon Lake, 440-368-8818
• 3762 Pearl Rd., Cleveland, 216-777-2155
• 864 W. Maple St., Hartville, 330-877-6613
• 6092 Mayfield Rd., Mayfield Heights, 440-462-4677
• 6848 Pearl Rd., Middleburg Heights, 216-345-2002
• 25757 Lorain Rd, North Olmsted, 440-307-1676
• 34160 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville, 440-363-6788
• 1400 W. Pleasant Valley Rd., Parma, 440-882-6595
• 20300 Chagrin Blvd., Shaker Heights, 216-400-6212

HealthExpressUC.com