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(MINOT, ND) – Calling it a new day in same-day medicine, Trinity Health opened a walk-in clinic today at Health Center – Medical Arts called FirstCare Walk-In Clinic.

FirstCare provides healthcare access on a walk-in basis with no appointments. The walk-in clinic welcomes patients seven days a week with extended hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on week days and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Thomas M. Warsocki, FACHE, vice president of Physician Network Services, calls the new clinic a significant step in non-emergent care. FirstCare gives patients the direct accessibility of walk-in care without compromising quality,’ he said. ‘Patients have ready access to lab, pharmacy and imaging services in addition to the full range of integrated services available through the Trinity Health system. That’s important to someone who might have a condition that requires a higher level of care.’

Staffing the clinic is a new team of providers committed to providing first-class walk-in care. Dr. Marisa Albertson is a Minot native, who’s practiced Family Medicine in the community for many years. She is joined by nurse practitioners Jessica Fricke, NP, and Roxann Brown, NP.

Dr. Albertson says FirstCare Walk-In Clinic is dedicated to serving patients of all ages in need of immediate care for non-life-threatening conditions. ‘We treat any injury or illness that requires immediate care but isn’t serious enough to warrant a visit to the Emergency Department. For emergent conditions people should go to the Emergency/Trauma Center or call 911,’ she said.

Choosing FirstCare Walk-In Clinic offers significant advantages for patients, according to Warsocki. Trinity’s fully integrated electronic health record means a patient’s health information can follow them if they visit other Trinity providers. In addition, Trinity offers an online patient portal that gives patients secure internet access to their health information.

‘Another patient friendly feature, thanks to our achievements as a “most wired” system, is that patients can gauge how long they might have to wait. Our website, trinityhealth.org, provides average wait-times for FirstCare’s walk-in patients, with wait-time updates every 15 minutes,’ Warsocki explained.

Dr. Albertson noted that patients who seek medical attention at FirstCare Walk-In Clinic may receive assistance in finding a primary care physician or specialty care physician if needed. ‘Every patient should have a regular provider who knows their history and can provide comprehensive care. But given the twists and turns of everyday life, we’re happy to offer FirstCare to get through those conditions that can’t wait,’ she said, adding, ‘If you need care, we will see you.’