Lehigh Valley Health Network has introduced ExpressCARE to Schuylkill County.

Located at 200 Schuylkill Medical Plaza, Pottsville, ExpressCARE offers walk-in care without an appointment for common illnesses and minor injuries such as but not limited to: sprains/strains, cuts/lacerations, poison ivy/rashes, seasonal allergies, flu symptoms, bronchitis, ear infections, sore throat and fever.

LVHN offers laboratory and X-ray services at Suite 103 in the adjoining Medical Office Building. Care is provided by advanced practice clinicians.

ExpressCARE–Schuylkill Medical Plaza opened May 1. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The facility will be open 365 days a year.

“This is a giant step in making care more accessible to a broad range of people in need,” said William Reppy, President of Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Schuylkill. “It is close-to-home, convenient care.”

Since the merger of 2016, LVHN has invested more than $50 million into new and expanded facilities, new services, recruiting more physicians, and in its colleagues.

Other recent enhancements include a new Family Birth and Newborn Center, new Senior Behavioral Health Unit, new Cancer Center, new Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, new Advanced Wound Center, new Rehab Services facility in Tamaqua, and the new emergency department at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street, which was completed in late 2016.

LVHN leaders note the timing of the ExpressCARE–Schuylkill Medical Plaza opening coincides with the closing of the Emergency Department at LVH–Schuylkill’s South Jackson Street campus.

Going forward, all Emergency Room services will be provided exclusively at LVH–Schuylkill’s East Norwegian Street campus, 700 E. Norwegian Street, Pottsville.

“Illness or injury can happen at any time to you or your loved ones,” said David Burmeister, DO, LVHN Chairman of Emergency Medicine.

“When you need ‘unexpected’ care, you now have two options in Schuylkill County. If your illness or injury is more serious, you should go to the emergency room. For ailments that are minor in nature, there is ExpressCARE.”

Burmeister referenced a brochure that gives recommendations when to useExpressCARE and when to go to the ER.

For the past two years, LVH–Schuylkill has been consolidating and aligning services moving traditional acute care inpatient services to the LVH–Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street campus and inpatient behavioral health units, advanced wound care and other outpatient services at the LVH–Schuylkill S. Jackson Street campus. LVH–Schuylkill operates under a single license for two campuses.

The Schuylkill ExpressCARE is the 19th ExpressCARE location opened by LVHN.

The health network has announced plans to open two additional ExpressCARE locations in Carbon County later this summer.

ExpressCARE at Lehighton will be located at 363 N. First St.. ExpressCARE in Palmerton will be located in the Pencor Services Inc. building at 528 Delaware Ave.