The demand on emergency room personnel and a growing consumer expectation for expanded services set the scene for Cullman Regional’s opening of its new Urgent Care and Imaging Center.

The grand opening will be May 31, 2:30 p.m. until 5 p.m.

“This is an exciting time for Cullman Regional,” said James Clements, Cullman Regional CEO. “We look forward to opening the Urgent Care and Imaging Center in order to meet the needs of our community. We are grateful for everyone’s support throughout this project.” 

While Cullman Regional officials have been working toward relieving some of the load experienced in the emergency, Urgent Care is also an effort to provide more convenience and access to medical care for a variety of situations.

“We certainly want to take a load off the ER, but we also do a community needs assessment every three years. Every time we do one the number one issue is access to health care,” said Lindsey Dossey,, executive director marketing at public relations at Cullman Regionals. “ A lot of the reason people overuse the ER is they don’t feel good and can’t get in to see a doctor. Hopefully, we can see them and direct them to a followup with a primary care physician.”

The Urgent Care center will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Friday, which represent peak hours for patients coming to the hospital. Weekend hours will 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Dossey said.

Urgent Care will accept patients with our without insurance.

The center will officially open for patients on Tuesday, June 5. The facility will also include The Imaging Center, which will be open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for outpatient MRI, CT and X-ray procedures. The pharmacy located at the Urgent Care Center will be open Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m to 4 p.m.

“We want to encourage people to use our local physicians, but sometimes they can’t make it,” Dossey said. “Consumers are demanding health care on demand and we’re trying to make it more accessible.”

One of those added conveniences will be an online check-in feature that patients can schedule from home.

“We want to encourage people to use our local physicians, but sometimes they can’t make it.” Consumers are demanding healthcare on demand and we’re trying to make it more accessible.”

The May 31 grand opening event will include:

Free giveaways, including t-shirts for children and adults

Tours of the facility and refreshments

Free health screenings

Kona Ice Truck serving free shaved ice

Teddy Bear Check-up – children can bring their favorite teddy bear, doll or stuffed animal for a check-up with the Urgent Care staff

For more information about the Cullman Regional Urgent Care and Imaging Center or services provided by Cullman Regional, visit cullmanregional.com.