UHS Chenango Memorial to close walk-in center

NORWICH – Facing tremendous state and federal funding cuts and a $5 million gap between revenues and expenditures, United Health Services (UHS) Chenango Memorial Hospital announced Monday that on Jan. 1, it will close the doors of its walk-in center.

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The UHS Walk-In Center, located at 4 Newton Ave. in Norwich, has been a place to turn for immediate medical attention for people who can’t schedule an appointment with a primary care provider. Anyone in need of medical attention for urgent medical needs will be directed to the emergency room at UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital, adjacent to the walk-in clinic. Anyone with less urgent needs such as aches, coughs, colds, minor burns and cuts, nausea, rashes, sore throat and sprains can call the UHS primary care office, where same-day appointments are available.

“This change is in response to state and federal budget cuts,” stated UHS President and CEO Dr. Drake Lamen. “We made this decision after weighing many options. Instead of cutting other services, positions, benefits or salaries, we have chosen to re-direct patients to the appropriate site for services already in place.”

The UHS Walk-In Center sees between 8,500 and 9,000 patients per year, many of whom are unable to schedule a same-day appointment with their regular doctor. According to Lamen, only a third of those visits are Chenango Memorial patients with UHS primary care doctors and nearly 3,000 people who visit the walk-in each year have primary care providers who are not part of the UHS health care system.

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