Hernando County Health Department walk-in clinic closed for now

SPRING HILL — The Hernando County Health Department's walk-in clinic, established in early October in hopes of decreasing nonemergency visits to local hospitals, has been temporarily closed due to low usage.

Health Department officials say they plan to reopen the Express Clinic on Saturdays in January, though a date has not been set.

Until last week, the walk-in clinic had been open from 1 to 7 p.m. each Friday, and patients were seen for issues ranging from sore throats to strains and sprains. A flat fee of $60 was charged for all visits — far more cost-effective than an unnecessary visit to the emergency room.

But Friday afternoons turned out to be a hard sell.

"We weren't seeing a lot of traffic during this time," said Ann-Gayl Ellis, the Health Department's spokeswoman.

Officials still hope to make the Express Clinic available during times when regular physicians might not be available, she said. And Saturdays might be a better fit for the community.

Officials agree on the need to decrease the number of visits to the emergency room for routine ailments.

"Decreasing unnecessary ER visits saves money for all of us," Health Department administrator Elizabeth Callaghan said earlier this fall.

The Health Department continues to offer walk-in options for some types of care, such as immunizations. But appointments are required to be seen by a physician.

Shary Lyssy Marshall can be reached at slmarshall.sptimes@gmail.com.