Bronson FastCare to open inside Portage Meijer store

PORTAGE, Mich. — A Bronson FastCare retail healthcare site is slated to open inside a Meijer store in Portage, Mich., on April 1, offering the first-of-its-kind service in the area.



The new Bronson FastCare clinic will offer medical care for minor ailments such as sore throats, fevers, flu and colds, ear and sinus infections, pink eye, skin rashes and allergies. Lab services will also be available for pregnancy tests, monospots, rapid strep and urinalysis.



“At Bronson, we are always looking for ways to improve access to healthcare services. That means making sure we are doing all we can to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time,” said John Jones, Jr., SVP and COO, Bronson Medical Practices. “Bronson FastCare is a great new resource that serves everyone regardless of whether or not they have insurance or their own primary care doctor. It is designed to help all people who have minor health concerns get the care they need quickly, affordably and with maximum convenience.”



Nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who work under the guidance of emergency medicine physicians with Southwestern Michigan Emergency Services, will provide the care — the same group that staffs the emergency departments at Bronson hospitals in Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and Paw Paw. A report following each visit can be sent to a patient’s primary care doctor. If a patient arrives with symptoms that exceed the scope of services, the patient will be referred to another Bronson facility that can handle that condition.



“The primary difference between Bronson FastCare and other immediate care and urgent care centers in the area is a direct link to the comprehensive Bronson system of care,” Jones said. “That includes medical specialists, services in the hospital and outpatient services. In addition, FastCare will meet the same Bronson quality standards as the other Bronson services. And it has the same electronic medical record system used at all Bronson locations in the Kalamazoo area. This helps patients track all of their visits and enables providers to coordinate a patient’s care from one service location to the next.”