VALDOSTA — SGMC Health recently announced the opening of a second urgent care in Valdosta, located at 520 Griffin Ave., adjacent to Partnership Health Center. The new SGMC Urgent Care center began seeing patients Jan. 6.

Located in the Ralph Council Medical Building in south Lowndes County, the second urgent care will open every day from 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.

“Our population continues to grow and so does utilization and demand for convenient access to urgent care services,” said Elizabeth Flail, DO, co-director of emergency and urgent care. “Offering more locations to meet this need greatly impacts the health and wellbeing of our area.”

“Urgent Care is the middle ground between a primary care provider and the emergency room,” said Flail. “If you have a minor illness or injury that just can’t wait until a regular appointment, SGMC Urgent Care fills that gap.”

More than 30,000 patients used SGMC Urgent Care last year. Flail said, “Our healthcare providers and team members are passionate about providing a high-quality, convenient experience that patients can trust,” she said. SGMC Health is accredited by the Urgent Care Association.

To help patients determine where to seek appropriate care, SGMC Health offers “Know, Then Go”, a website that provides clear guidance on when to seek care at a primary care provider, urgent care, or an emergency room. According to Flail, by understanding these differences, patients can save time, reduce costs, and  ensure they receive the right level of care for their needs.

SGMC Health offers 12 primary care offices, four emergency departments and two urgent care centers.

To learn more, call SGMC Urgent Care – Griffin Ave at 229-433-7340 or visit sgmc.org/knowthengo.