Midlakes Community Health Center to expand hours, staff
The Midlakes Community Health Center in Round Lake Beach is expanding its hours and staff, the Lake County Health Department has announced.
The facility, which is one of the health department's eight community health centers, is also increasing the availability of same-day appointments, officials said in a news release.
"We are expanding hours to better accommodate our patients' schedules and cut down on the wait time to get an appointment," said Jeanne Ang, the health department's primary care services director. "We are also scheduling more same-day appointments for patients. The goal is to reduce barriers to care, one of our strategic plan goals."
The health center is adding staff to support the expanded hours. This will include an advanced practice nurse, two certified medical assistants, a billing specialist, a care coordinator and a patient care representative.
New hours will go into effect Wednesday, March 18. The health center will open at 7 a.m. Mondays through Fridays, and will remain open until 9 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Expanded weekend hours will begin in the summer.
Midlakes also will add immediate care hours. These are hours set aside each week for same-day appointments with services provided to patients with acute care needs. Midlakes' expansion in staff and hours is made possible through a $335,956 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
"As a result of this expansion, we are providing enhanced services to our current patients and expecting to see our patient population of approximately 9,000 at Midlakes increase by more than 300 patients," Ang said.
Midlakes Health Center is at 225 Clarendon Drive in Round Lake Beach. Providing care as a certified Patient Centered Medical Home, it offers a comprehensive array of services, including adult and pediatric medicine, dental, mental health, WIC, and women's health. These programs have varying hours. Patients have access to a wide range of interconnected services and resources that are part of a comprehensive public health system.
To make an appointment, call (847) 984-5100. For more information, visit health.lakecountyil.gov/Primary/Pages/default.aspx.