New urgent care option coming to Niagara County

People needing medical care when their physician isn't available will have another option beginning Feb. 1, when urgent care comes to western Niagara County.

Niagara Falls Urgent Care will open at 6 p.m. that day in a new facility at 3117 Military Road, near the Casa Nova Restaurant in the Town of Niagara. The opening will be preceded by a grand opening celebration and community open house from 3-5 p.m.

"With Niagara Falls Urgent Care there will no longer be a need to spend an entire day at the emergency room when illness strikes outside of office hours," said attending physician and Niagara Falls Urgent Care co-owner Dr. Santanu Som. "Our objective is to deliver quality care and have patients treated and returned to their daily routines in just about one hour."

The American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine defines urgent care as the provision of immediate medical service offering outpatient care for the treatment of acute and chronic illness and injury. While urgent care does not replace one's primary care physician, it can be a convenient option when someone's regular physician is on vacation or unable to offer a timely appointment.

"We will also handle physicals, injuries, falls, fractures, sprains and much more," Som said. "Our physicians and nurses have extensive experience in emergency care, as well as critical care."

Som said he decided to locate in Niagara County because a need existed.

"In early 2015, we recognized a gap in the community's health care structure," he said. "People in this community needed a facility that bridged the gap between primary care offices and emergency rooms."

Once the decision was made, Som said he and his staff were made to feel welcome by the administration and staff at nearby Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.

"They are clearly dedicated to improving the community's health," Som said. "Together, we have formed a relationship which allows us to offer the community far more than the typical urgent care center."

Operating hours at Niagara Falls Urgent Care will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 716-297-2052 or visithttp://www.niagaraurgentcare.com.