The University of Mississippi Medical Center's Quick Care Clinic for employees is now open and ready for patients.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m

Phone: 4-CARE (4-2273)

Starting Monday, Aug. 6 2007, employees and their immediate families who need to see a physician for minor illnesses like a sore throat or an earache can get an appointment within 24 hours through the clinic. Most patients will be seen the same day they call for an appointment.

Dr. Colette Scott, a family physician who has a special interest in preventive medicine and community wellness, is the staff physician for the clinic, and she said she is honored to provide care through UMC's employee health clinic. "I believe that good customer service starts with how an organization takes care of its employees," she said. "This is an opportunity to provide convenient, affordable, quality health care to the UMC community."

Dr. Diane Beebe, chair of the Department of Family Medicine, said the clinic is the result of employee surveys which found that a convenient clinic on campus was in high demand.

The clinic will handle common and acute illnesses such as upper respiratory, urinary tract and gastrointestinal infections and flu; minor emergencies such as sprains or rashes; and yearly preventive medicine physicals. As a board-certified family physician, Scott also can assist patients without a primary care physician and work with them to manage such health concerns as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Cases that need more focused care will be referred to other departments at UMC.

"All of our referrals will be internal; we can handle all of the patients' needs within our system," Beebe said. She said her hope is that the clinic will add physicians and expand services as it grows.

The clinic will be open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

To schedule an appointment, employees should call the Access Center at 4-CARE (4-2273).