ROCHESTER, NY— Starting November 1, Lifetime Health Medical Group’s AfterHours Medical Care will be opening phone lines two hours earlier to better accommodate patient volume and patients’ needs. AfterHours provides urgent care after traditional office hours—offering an alternative to waiting in overcrowded hospital emergency rooms. It is available seven days a week within three of Lifetime Health’s comprehensive primary care centers: Joseph C. Wilson Center (800 Carter St.); Marion B. Folsom Center (1850 Brighton-Henrietta TL Rd.); and the Greece Center (470 Long Pond Rd). The appointment lines will be open between 11a.m. and 9 p.m. weekdays (with appointments available from noon to 9:30) and 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekends (with appointments available from noon to 7:30 p.m.).

AfterHours Medical Care is the only urgent care facility in the Rochester area to offer appointments; a recent survey conducted by Lifetime Health showed patient dissatisfaction with walk-in urgent care facilities rose from 50 percent in the first half of 2007 to 71 percent in the third quarter of 2007.

“Patients spend less time waiting in AfterHours because they are seen based on appointments, with dramatically shorter wait times than emergency rooms. This takes away the stress of wondering when they, or their loved one, might be seen by a doctor,” says Richard A. Dudrak, II M.D., medical director of AfterHours Medical Care for Lifetime Health.

The providers who staff AfterHours are physicians board-certified in internal, family and pediatric medicine and experienced physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Providers are equipped to administer x-ray services, rapid strep tests, EKG, IV fluids, routine blood work and more. Prescription drugs orders can be written on-site when needed.

For more information about AfterHours Medical Care call 585/338-1200 or visit www.lifetimehealth.org.

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