BayCare has announced an expansion of its urgent care services to include children as young as 6 months old. Previously, the minimum age for treatment at BayCare Urgent Care locations was 2 years. The change aims to make it easier for families in West Central Florida to access medical care close to home.
Danielle Palmieri, a physician assistant with 27 years of experience in clinical emergency medicine at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and Morton Plant Hospital, has played a key role in implementing this update. Palmieri said, “What sets us apart from many others in the urgent care space is the high level of clinically excellent pediatric care that BayCare offers. We want those who care for little ones to understand that we are here for you past normal business hours, and if you need a connection to a higher level of care, we’ve got St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and a multitude of pediatric experts ready to help.”
BayCare Urgent Care facilities provide treatment for conditions such as fever, cold, sinus infection, flu, animal bites, minor cuts and burns, strains and sprains. Additional services available on-site include labs, imaging, immunizations, school physicals and sports physicals.
Dr. Chris Bucciarelli, vice president of ambulatory services and chief medical officer at BayCare, stated: “Expanding access to care for some of our youngest patients is a priority for BayCare. Our BayCare Urgent Care sites administer high-quality, compassionate care every day, and we’re pleased to offer this convenient service to even more families now.”
There are 17 BayCare Urgent Care locations across West Central Florida operating from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
BayCare has also extended its telehealth platform BayCareAnywhere to serve patients starting at 6 months old.
For more information about these services visit BayCare Urgent Care or BayCareAnywhere.
