Patients in a pinch have been accessing Lehighton's newest medical facility for around a month, but the doors to Blue Mountain Health System's first Quick Care facility officially opened Wednesday with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony.

Flanked by Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation officials, elected representatives and various Health System personnel, Blue Mountain President and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Harris said Quick Care provides patients with quick access to treatment for minor injuries or illnesses.The walk-in facility, located in the Gnaden Huetten Professional Building adjacent to the Gnaden Huetten Hospital campus, opened in early April staffed by John Reel, physician assistant, and Chrissy Weikel, certified medical assistant.Target patients are those who have injuries not rising to the level of an emergency room visit and unable to get an immediate appointment with a family physician."This facility doesn't compete with a doctor's office or emergency department," Harris said, "it simply provides another level of service."No appointment is needed at the Quick Care facility, which is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Reel said an expansion of hours on the weekend is likely coming within the next few weeks.Sample issues that could be treated at Quick Care include colds, fever/flu, sprains and strains, sore throat, sinus/ear infections, rashes, and adult and children's physicals.Patients are referred back to their primary care physicians for their follow-up care.Having a hospital right across the parking lot, Harris added, is an enormous benefit if someone's situation requires advanced care."We have the laboratories, medical imaging services and an emergency department available if it's needed," he said. "It's all right here at one campus and very convenient for our patients."Blue Mountain hopes to roll out a phone app in the future that would allow patients to schedule a time and check in before they get to the Quick Care facility to streamline the process.If all goes well, the facility at Gnaden Huetten may not be the last Blue Mountain Quick Care in the region."We're looking to see how this works with the anticipation of possibly establishing a few more locations in the area," Harris said.For more on the facility, visit

https://www.blmtn.org/health-care-services/quick-care.