Southcoast Health Urgent Care Recognized for High Standard of Excellence

Southcoast Health announced today its Urgent Care Center locations in
Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Lakeville, Seekonk, Wareham and Middletown, Rhode Island have
been reaccredited by the Urgent Care Association and received the Accredited Urgent Care designation.
“This accomplishment represents Southcoast’s commitment to providing high-quality care to patients in
our community,” says Tonya Johnson, DNP RN NEA-BC, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations
Officer for Southcoast Hospitals Group. “Being recognized as an Accredited Urgent Care Center
demonstrates that our urgent care locations meet and exceed an exceptional standard of care. We are so
grateful for the amazing frontline staff who continuously put our community first.”

Accreditation is the highest level of distinction that can be earned from the Urgent Care Association. The
re-accreditation process is very thorough and must be completed every 36 months. It includes site visits,
patient visit observations and policy reviews.

“It was a true team effort to achieve this re-accreditation,” says Kelly Houde, Practice Administrator for
Urgent Care Centers at Southcoast Health. “Especially as our staff continues to step up in unbelievable
ways during these very difficult and trying times with COVID.”
Adding significance to this achievement, The Southcoast Health Urgent Care Centers continue to play an
instrumental role in Southcoast’s COVID response, providing essential support to hospitals and the
community. “From testing to treating patients that are experiencing COVID symptoms, the urgent care
team continuously steps up to care for patients who do not need to go to the emergency room,” says
Johnson.

Urgent Care Centers provide the community with immediate, non-emergency care, including treatment
for illnesses and minor injuries such as burns, fractures and sprains. These locations are open to all
patients in the community, including those who do not have a Southcoast Health primary care provider,
with walk-in availability close to home.

Further emphasizing the exceptional standard of care, Southcoast Health Urgent Care Centers are backed
by the specialty services and resources of Southcoast Health. Equipped with advanced diagnostic tools
and resources, all seven urgent care centers offer comprehensive care with the ability to refer patients to a
specialist if needed.

For added convenience, patients seeking services at Southcoast Health Urgent Care centers can wait in the
comfort of their own home until it’s their turn to be seen through the online check-in system. Visitors can
find the closest center, its current wait time and even save a spot in line before arriving.
To learn more about Southcoast Health’s Urgent Care Centers, please visit: https://www.southcoast.org/services/urgent-care/

About Southcoast Health
Celebrating the system’s 25th anniversary in 2021, Southcoast Health is a not-for-profit, charitable organization and the largest
provider of primary and specialty care in the region, serving communities in Rhode Island and across Southeastern
Massachusetts. Southcoast Health is a Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospital in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Out of the 2,743 considered
hospitals in the United States, only 250 earned this recognition. In 2020 and 2021, St. Luke’s is a Newsweek and Leapfrog’s Best
Maternity Hospitals. US News ranks Southcoast 9th among hospitals in Massachusetts, and 2nd among those in the Providence
Metro area. In 2019 and 2020, the Southcoast Health system also received seven awards, including Best Hospitals and Best Place
to Work, in SouthCoast Media Group’s Best of the Best Awards voted on by residents and readers.