Clinton walk-in clinic opens

WhidbeyHealth is opening a new walk-in clinic in Clinton during the first week of April, the hospital district reported.

Some patients on South Whidbey were upset when WhidbeyHealth closed its clinic in Clinton to primary care patients last summer. At the time, hospital officials announced that it would be reopened as a diagnostic center and eventually as a walk-in center, which would lessen the number of patients at the hospital’s emergency room.

“Staff recruitment, equipment modernization and facility renovations are on track to serve patients with non-emergency problems that don’t require the intensive medical support of our Emergency Department,” the hospital stated in a release.

The types of health issues that can be addressed at the walk-in clinic include severe flu symptoms, minor cuts and bruises, muscle pain and strains, fevers, ear aches and sinus infections.

The wait time at the walk-in clinic will be minimal compared to the emergency room, the hospital reported. People do not have to be a patient of a primary care provider to go to the walk-in clinic.

The walk-in clinic will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays and 12-4 p.m. on Sundays. It is located at 11245 Highway 525 in Clinton.

“Although the Walk-In Clinic is not technically a primary care clinic, we will offer the ability for our patients to choose and schedule with a primary care provider, if desired,” Chief Operations Officer Colleen Clark said.