NextCare, Mary Washington Hospital Partnership Brings Additional Urgent Care to PWC

Drivers that frequent Prince William Parkway or Route 234, have probably noticed the two NextCare urgent care locations at Hoadly and in Dumfries.

But, what do Prince William County residents know about NextCare and its partnership with Mary Washington Hospital? 

NextCare, like most urgent care facilities, looks to fill a void between primary care physicians and emergency rooms that tend to be too overcrowded. Dr. Howard Podolsky, Chief Medical Officer of NextCare,and Marie Frederick, Vice President of Properties and Ambulatory Services for Mary Washington Hospital spoke about what the partnership means for residents of Prince William County.

When a medical condition cannot be handled by a patient’s regular doctor – such as unexpected cuts, burns, sprains or fractures that do not require a visit to the emergency department, NextCare Urgent Care is equipped with x-ray and laboratory services, and a licensed provider is always available to perform minor procedures like splinting and suturing.

“We relied we wanted to get into an urgent care situation several years ago. We felt like, looking at the needs of our community that was an area that needed some help,” said Frederick. “Patients were using the emergency room for a less than emergency reason.”

Frederick said the new locations in Prince William County were a function of Mary Washington Hospital’s desire to expand their services while doing urgent care well. The goal of NextCare and Mary Washington hospital is not to replace primary care doctors, but to supplement them by providing services to fill a gap.

“We strive for exceptional care with a strong, strong commitment to customer service. Marry that with exceptional use and levering of technology,” said Podolsky. “We have a robust technological service, we keep wait times at a minimum. We want to maximize their time and their health care dollar. “

The clinics provide patients with walk-in, extended-hour medical attention with licensed providers for a large scope of medical conditions, and they have met all of the Urgent Care Association of America’s established criteria.