Patient Traffic Drives Service Changes
Effective Saturday, May 28, Walk-In Care at ThedaCare Physicians-Shawano will change its weekend hours to Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 5 pm. Current weekend walk-in hours are 10 am to 6 pm. Weekday hours remain Monday-Friday 8 am to 7 pm. Patients must be registered 15 minutes prior to closing time to be seen that day. Traci Berry, ThedaCare practice administrator in Shawano, said the clinic staff evaluates patient needs based on the time they arrive and register. Having an earlier start time on weekend mornings will better meet patient demand.
Berry also announced the addition of two more nurse practitioners to the walk-in care staff. Kendra Konitzer, PA, will be joined by Margaret Anderson, APNP, and Kathleen Elertson, APNP. Konitzer and Anderson are both full-time; Elertson, part-time.
Walk-In Care is located within ThedaCare Physicians-Shawano, the clinic adjacent to ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano at 100 County Road B. It was established in January when the prior FastCare model was discontinued at the old hospital. “Walk-in care is not urgent care,” said Konitzer. Patients should expect 15-20 minute appointments and be prepared to wait, based on the popularity of the walk-in care clinic. “We see about 30 patients a day,” she said.
ThedaCare Walk-In Care patients can be treated for most ailments that would normally be treated at a regular physician’s office appointment, including bronchitis, cough, thrush, rash, pain/strains, eczema, diaper rash, insect bites, urinary tract infections, cold, flu, shingles, ear wax removal, asthma, cellulitis, and strep. Sports physicals are also available, but walk-in care is not for well-visits or the management of chronic conditions.
“We help people who might otherwise end up in the ER,” Konitzer said. “We’ll connect them to their primary care providers for follow-up appointments, or if they need referrals to specialists, we can start that, too.”
For more than 100 years, ThedaCare™ has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast Wisconsin. The organization serves over 240,000 patients annually and employs more than 7,000 healthcare professionals throughout the region. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose as well as 34 Cares in 9 counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Care Care Network Member, giving specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Care experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a non-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service. For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter
