“We took all the true non-emergent patients off their hands so the emergency rooms can treat real emergencies,” he said. “We treat these folks in a timely fashion at doctor’s office costs. That’s three to six times less than the cost of an emergency room.”

The clinic will accept payment from both Medicare and insurance, Childers said.

“If they have Medicaid and they have an unassigned provider they can come right in,” he said. “If they have an assigned provider, then we must have a physician referral.”

Meredith Zehr, executive director of the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce, said growth in the health care sector can have long-term positive results for the community.

“We’re hoping it will create a ripple effect,” she said. “If it attracts more physicians, then there will be less patients who have to go to Tulsa or Muskogee.”

Tahlequah City Hospital CEO Brian Woodliff said health care providers in small towns need to collaborate. Having two health care facilities in Wagoner will help attract physicians, he said.

Rhonda Serrano, office manager for Childers Medical Group, said Urgent Care will have five to six exam rooms, a procedure room and a lab.

“It will be a walk-in clinic,” she said. “We’ll handle common colds, women’s needs, scrapes and bruises, headaches, allergies, fevers, stomach problems, stitches and minor emergencies.”

Childers said the tentative hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Serrano said they are recruiting nurse practitioners and physician assistants to staff the facility.

“We also do a lot of workers comp and employment drug screening,” she said. “That’s good for all the businesses in the growing community.”

City Editor Liz McMahan contributed to this report.