AfterOurs Urgent Care Opens Aug. 5 in Thornton - First on Front Range to Complement Physician Practice Hours

AfterOurs, the first Front Range urgent care center operating all night, weekends and holidays-times when physician offices and other urgent care centers typically are closed-opens Aug. 5 at 3655 E. 104th Ave. in Thornton. AfterOurs will provide care for non-life threatening conditions at less than half the cost of a typical hospital emergency department (ED) visit, and no appointment is required.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) August 5, 2005 -- AfterOurs, the first Front Range urgent care center operating all night, weekends and holidays-times when physician offices and other urgent care centers typically are closed-opens Aug. 5 at 3655 E. 104th Ave. in Thornton (one block west of Colorado Boulevard).

AfterOurs will provide care for non-life threatening conditions at less than half the cost of a typical hospital emergency department (ED) visit, and no appointment is required. Those unsure about coming in can call the AfterOurs Medical Hotline at 303-861-7878. Total treatment time is expected to be less than an hour, with the most severe needs treated first. Thats compared to an average of 3.2 hours in the ED, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

said Director of Clinical Services Rod Bennett. Unlike most urgent care centers that are open during the day up until 8 to 10 PM, we cover the busy all-night shift, weekends and holidays.

An extensive, proprietary assessment and treatment protocol-used both on-site and on the Medical Hotline-will help ensure that patients are accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated," said Jill Flateland, AfterOurs CEO.

Patients with a major medical emergency or a potentially life-threatening condition should call 911 immediately or go directly to the hospital emergency department. Such emergencies include chest pain, loss of consciousness, stroke symptoms, excessive bleeding and sudden inability to breathe.

AfterOurs accepts most major insurance including Medicare and Medicaid, and pre-authorization generally is not required.

Flateland noted, Copays typically will run $40 versus $50 to $100 or more at the hospital ED. Total treatment cost will average $200, compared to $450 on up to $2,000 in the ED."

Medical Director David Zieg, M.D., emphasized that board-certified physicians and clinically experienced support staff are being hired. The majority of non-physician staff has over 20 years of healthcare experience. One of the core principles of the service that we provide is seamless, consistent communication back to a patients primary care physician, making follow-up safe and effective. That doesnt always happen in an ED environment," noted Dr. Zieg, a former ED physician.

AfterOurs Chairman of the Board David White pointed out, This truly complements existing physician practices and provides a seamless care continuum for patients every hour of every day. We actually help build patient loyalty to their regular doctors instead of diverting care away from them."

Dr. Zieg added that AfterOurs relieves pressure on already overcrowded hospital emergency departments, enabling them to be available to handle the more serious cases-the primary reason they exist.

We are equipped to handle over 50% of cases that usually end up at the ED, in an extremely efficient manner," said Director of Clinical Services Rod Bennett. Unlike most urgent care centers that are open during the day up until 8 to 10 PM, we cover the busy all-night shift, weekends and holidays."

AfterOurs patient billing system, provided by partner The Pinnacle Group, also contributes to the efficiency of the urgent care center. Accurate, efficient coding and lower treatment costs mean faster claim processing and less hassle for the patients," noted White.

AfterOurs is open Monday-Friday 5 PM to 7 AM; Weekends beginning at 5 PM Friday through 7 AM Monday; and Holidays from 5 PM the day before through the holiday until 7 AM the day following the holiday. For more information, go to www.afteroursinc.com or call 303-861-7878.

Media Contacts:
Jill Flateland, CEO, 303.407.0520 office, 303.422.4918 evenings
Heather Lusky, Marketing, 303.321.2911
Joyce Brady, 303.628.5577

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