Two new walk-in clinics have been added to the ensemble of medical facilities in Ringgold, providing more options for those seeking same-day assistance nearby.
The first of the two new establishments is the Center for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics, which held its ribbon-cutting ceremony last week after opening its doors to the public in late May.
The Chattanooga-based practice already has nine locations in Chattanooga, Hixson, Cleveland and Sequatchie County, but this is its first office in Georgia.
Located on Battlefield Parkway, the center specializes in surgeries, non-invasive work and rehab for bones and muscles. Dr. Bradford Mitchell, a non-operative orthopedist, said the center is a great spot to heal sprains, strains, broken bones, concussions, joint pain and muscle aches.
Aside from its urgent care clinic, which allows for same-day appointments Monday through Friday, Mitchell said the center is made unique by its rotating group of fellowship-trained specialists from almost every subspecialty in orthopaedics, including those that deal with the upper extremities, spine, sports medicine and joint replacement.
"You get to be evaluated at a place where anything and everything that could go wrong, we have someone who's fellowship trained that can take care of it," he said.
Karlette Baker, marketing director for the center, said the new location has been a big win for the center's growing number of patients from Northwest Georgia, who had already been commuting to make appointments at the organization's other offices.
"It seemed like there was more and more of the need for our patients to have something that was closer to home [so they wouldn't] have to travel to Chattanooga," Mitchell agreed. "We hope that as we're here, our presence, our reputation will gain the trust of folks in the area."
Also hoping to gain the trust of locals is the Hamilton Physician Group, which opened the doors to its Catoosa campus in May.
Located on College Park Drive, the facility provides provides non-emergency medical care to adults and children age 2 and older. Its large variety of health care services include primary care, school physicals, adult immunizations, biometric screenings, electrocardiograms (EKGs), well-women exams and X-rays.
Benjamin Oliver, a physician assistant at the clinic, said the goal is to go beyond just providing standard care.
"My goal with patients is to diagnose and treat, but to also have patients become an integral part of their treatment decisions; treating their health care in a team approach for the best possible results and helping them feel empowered about their health," Oliver said in a news release.
Visitors can also receive neurosurgery and spine care on Mondays; and more specialty care options, such as gastroenterology, endocrinology and psychiatry, will be added in the next few months.
Part of the clinic's draw are its extended hours, representatives say. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, but its doors are also open on weekends, with hours spanning from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"I live here and understand that getting quick access to health care can be a challenge, whether primary care or a specialty," said Stacy Smith, practice manager. "We're excited to be in Ringgold to take care of the people in Catoosa and Walker counties."
Staff writer Tyler Jett contributed to this article.
Email Myron Madden at mmadden@timesfreepress.com.