Home Emergency Medicine Urgent Care to Install Drive Thru Window

Urgent Care to Install Drive Thru Window

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ATLANTA, GA – An urgent care center in Atlanta, GA will be the first in the nation to provide drive-thru service as part of a new, innovative way to increase health care efficiency.  Instead of the traditional approach to patient care which involved lengthy registration and wait times, patients are now able to remain in their vehicles, register by speakerphone with an RN similarly to those used at fast-food establishments.

drive thruThey state their chief complaint and give their full medical history, family’s medical histories, social history, allergies, and current medications.  Then the patient drives forward to the next available window to see the provider and repeat everything they just told the nurse.  The provider is able to diagnose most ailments through the window, thanks in part to new extra long stethoscopes being made by Littmann for this very purpose.

“We saw an emerging market that demands longer tubing to reach patients seated in their vehicles.  We simply cornered the market early and expect to see sales rise quickly as this concept catches on,” stated a spokesperson for Littmann.  Finally, patients pull forward to a machine which prints work excuses and dispenses the ordered medications.

“I really appreciate the convenience of it,” remarked one local resident.  “When I have kids in the car and just picked up groceries, I don’t have time to go inside to have my sinuses checked.  I have ice cream melting in the back and just need antibiotics.”

Employees are also enthusiastic about the change.  “After years of ICU residency, medicine has become much easier.  Even suturing is a breeze.  I had a patient just reach his hand through his car window and onto the table.  I gave him 4 mg of IM morphine for pain, blocked his finger, gave him 6 stitches and he drove off.  No sweat.”

Urgent dare director Dr. Robert Norton sees another advantage: “We will likely see a positive trend in Press Ganey scores.  Treat ’em and street ’em!  But of course more critical patients are not seen in the drive thru.  We had a man complain of shortness of breath and chest discomfort.  His lips and fingers were turning blue and he was sweating.  We directed him to the nearest ER 17 miles down the freeway.  The poor guy probably just worked out too hard before coming in and needed IV fluids to rehydrate.”

The brainchild of this revolution, Dr. Ethan Thornsen, imagines the concept will develop even further.  “Since the recent shift in medicine to patient-centered care, we believe it would be best to empower patients to choose their own treatment. We retrofitted 2 soda machines to dispense medications.  One is for antibiotics, and the other is for pain medications.  Patients typically know what worked best the last time they were hurt or sick and what they are allergic to.  Unfortunately, the pain medication machine was stolen after 2 days.  We are working to replace it promptly.”  Area health care establishments are taking note and progressing with plans of their own.

144 COMMENTS

  1. I’d like the Number 4 with Alfrapolam, Vicoden and supersize it with a SSDI form that my lawyer gave me to give to you and do it during your lunch break or better yet while you are on vacation and I need it done by 430 today because I have court tomorrow morning, oh and add a side of FMLA for my wife- make it for 90 days please. We are going to Europe to visit family and won’t be back until September when the kiddos start private school.

  2. I’d like the Number 4 with Alfrapolam, Vicoden and supersize it with a SSDI form that my lawyer gave me to give to you and do it during your lunch break or better yet while you are on vacation and I need it done by 430 today because I have court tomorrow morning, oh and add a side of FMLA for my wife- make it for 90 days please. We are going to Europe to visit family and won’t be back until September when the kiddos start private school.

  86. Its really sad that so many people are addicted to prescription narcotics . And that these 1,000.00 trips to the ED for 5.00 worth of “meds” is even allowed to occur ??

  87. Its really sad that so many people are addicted to prescription narcotics . And that these 1,000.00 trips to the ED for 5.00 worth of “meds” is even allowed to occur ??

  106. Having observed the overcrowded conditions in my hospital’s ED, with every room ccupied and gurneys lining the halls, I think this is an awesome idea! Why hadn’t anyone come up with it before? I’m forwarding this to the adinistration office for consideration.

  120. HAHAHA! And only because Tyl #3 doesn’t do shit for anything and gives me a headache, I can take morphine & have taken morphine but need zofran because I feel sssoooo much better that I want to eat then I PUKE!!! BAD… Had dilaudid once with my 2nd wrist fracture & it was fabulous! No puking and sleepville. Other than that…I don’t take narcs. But hey, if I can have a ‘menu choice’ why not?!!!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!

  139. Oh you have to give me some phenergan with that cause Perkies make nauseas she says while eating the ham sammy. And I need 5 days off from work on my excuse and one for my hubby to cause he gotta stay home and take care of me.

  140. Oh you have to give me some phenergan with that cause Perkies make nauseas she says while eating the ham sammy. And I need 5 days off from work on my excuse and one for my hubby to cause he gotta stay home and take care of me.

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