Panther Valley area residents in need of medical services now have another location that can help treat their ailments.

Blue Mountain Health System's Nesquehoning Medical Plaza and Lehigh Valley ExpressCARE are open and ready to serve.On Tuesday, the health system held an open house to educate the community on what its new center has to offer.Gary Higgins, director of rehabilitation services for Blue Mountain Health System, explained that the medical plaza offers a number of services to benefit patients, including physical therapy, X-ray and laboratory services, Dr. John Bosi's family practice, and Lehigh Valley's ExpressCARE."The Nesquehoning Medical Plaza is a tremendous addition to the Nesquehoning community and surrounding towns," Higgins said. "We are very excited over the convenience and perfect location for the people we serve."Andrew Harris, president and CEO of Blue Mountain Health System, added that the partnerships between Blue Mountain, Lehigh Valley Health Network and the Kovatch family shows that the hospital is committed to the community it serves."This medical plaza shows that it is about Blue Mountain Health System working with other providers to provide the best care in the communities we serve," Harris said. "It takes our expertise in medicine and Lehigh Valley Health Network's expertise in emergency care and brings the two together."Kovatch has also been a leader in this community for many, many years and this partnership once again took local community leaders and is working with them to provide services.""We are thrilled that this is here," John Kovatch III, president and CEO of Kovatch Mobile Equipment, said, adding that it was always a desire of his to have something in the health care field like this here in the Nesquehoning community.Dr. Eric Bean, medical director of ExpressCARE, and Dr. David Burmeister, chairman of emergency and hospital medicine at Lehigh Valley Health Network, said this new medical plaza provides residents with a number of services that previously would have required a trip to a hospital."In ExpressCARE, we provide care of non-emergency related conditions," Brumeister said. Anything from lacerations to chest congestion and even broken bones can be handled at the facility."Blue Mountain Health System and Lehigh Valley Health Network have always been strong partners," Bean said. "This is an opportunity to show that commitment to each other, and this building is a testament to the fact that we are invested in the community."Dr. John Bosi, who has practiced in Nesquehoning for 22 years, was thrilled by his new location."I will be able to serve more people in the community," he said. He sees patients in all age groups.The Nesquehoning Medical Plaza is located at 426 W. Railroad St.For more information or to set up an appointment, call 570-669-6580.Services availableThe Nesquehoning Medical Plaza of Blue Mountain Health System offers five areas of care:Lehigh ValleyExpressCAREHours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Weekends and holidays: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Conditions treated: allergies, animal bites, back pain, broken bones where bone does not break the skin, bronchitis, chest pains related to sickness, minor cuts, cough and sore throat, ear pain, eye irritation, flu and flu shots, minor fever or headaches, nausea, poison ivy, rashes, sinusitis, sprains and strains, lacerations, and other non-life threatening illnesses.When to go to the ER: broken bones where the bone has broken the skin; severe chest pains, deep cuts, coughing up blood, head injury, loss of consciousness, severe abdominal pains or shortness of breath, stroke symptoms, suicidal thoughts or wounds that won't stop bleeding.Physical TherapyCenterHours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment.Conditions treated: joint therapy after surgery or replacement; sports related injuries; work related injuries; stroke rehabilitation; shoulder/rotator cuff rehabilitation; hand or arm therapy; back and neck therapy; foot and ankle therapy; plantar fasciitis, tendinitis or bursitis therapy; motor vehicle injuries; or jaw/TMJ therapy.Dr. John Bosi,family practitionerHours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.X-ray servicesHours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Weekends: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.Laboratory servicesHours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Weekends: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.