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North Oaks Opens Urgent Care Clinics Staffed by ER-trained Providers

  • Category: In The News
  • Posted On:
  • Written By: Melanie Lanaux Zaffuto
North Oaks Opens Urgent Care Clinics Staffed by ER-trained Providers

Staffed by emergency medicine-trained nurse practitioners under the leadership of Medical Director John Krieg, M.D., North Oaks Health System’s new urgent care clinics in Hammond, Ponchatoula and Walker will open Aug. 2. The clinics will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. and specialize in the care of adults and children of all ages with illnesses and minor injuries. Most major insurance plans, Medicare and Medicaid are accepted, and self-pay options also are offered. While no appointments are necessary, those seeking care do have the option to reserve a spot here.

“What sets North Oaks Urgent Care apart is its association with our emergency department as an extension of services for non-life-threatening medical conditions. This approach positions North Oaks Urgent Care to fill a need in our region for a level of medical attention between emergent and primary care that accommodates patients’ time and resources with shorter waits and less cost than a traditional hospital ER visit,” states Eric Neal, director of emergency services, urgent care and occupational health services for the health system.

“Our nurse practitioners cross-train extensively in North Oaks Medical Center’s emergency department, and many hold additional acute care certifications, which enable them to manage more complex cases than the average urgent care provider,” affirms North Oaks Urgent Care Medical Director John Krieg, M.D. He also serves as assistant medical director of the North Oaks Medical Center emergency department, which is the Northshore’s only Level II Trauma Center.

Providers at North Oaks Urgent Care treat medical conditions that need immediate attention, but are not life-threatening. Some examples include:

  • difficulty breathing (asthma)
  • sprains and strains
  • fractures
  • skin rash without fever
  • cuts that may require stitches
  • pink eye
  • minor foreign body removal
  • sinus issues
  • viruses like the flu, RSV or COVID-19 without complications.

Housed in the health system’s former walk-in clinic locations, North Oaks Urgent Care facilities offer advanced diagnostic X-ray and laboratory services to enable providers to rapidly assess patients’ medical conditions onsite.

Locations include: 1900 S. Morrison Blvd. Suite A, (adjacent to North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital) in Hammond; 530 W. Pine St., Suite 1 in Ponchatoula; and 28050 Walker S. Road, Suite L, in Walker.

North Oaks Urgent Care staff members will follow up with patients, answer any questions about prescribed care plans, and help them reconnect or establish a relationship with a primary health care provider or specialist.

Krieg adds, “Our integrated model also solidifies a continuum of care that gives patients direct access to our hospitals and physician network should it be determined that a higher level of medical attention or follow-up is warranted.” If advanced medical attention is determined to be needed, urgent care providers will refer the patient to the North Oaks Medical Center emergency department or a North Oaks specialist clinic.

Providers who practice at North Oaks Urgent Care include: Supervisor and Nurse Practitioner Jacob Neal, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, ENP-C; and Nurse Practitioners Tiffany Billiot, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, ENP-C; Amy Bruno, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; John Easterly, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, ENP-C; Natalie Easterly, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, ENP-C; Mallory Jenkins, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; Thadd Lavigne, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; Courtney Muller, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; Erika Oliver, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; Joan Peperone, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; Megan Perilloux, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; Angela Reynolds, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, ENP-C; Debbie Sellers, MSN, APRN, ANP-C; Jourdan Pellegrini, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; and Richelle Smart, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, ENP-C, SANE-A.

North Oaks Urgent Care clinics cannot treat life-threatening or possible loss-of-limb emergencies. In such situations, call 9-1-1 or seek medical attention at the nearest emergency room.