Harlem, Ga. (May 31, 2023) - Leaders from Piedmont Augusta, Columbia County and the city of Harlem conducted a ceremonial ribbon cutting today to celebrate the opening of its new Harlem Prompt Care and Occupational Medicine, the first facility of its kind in the Piedmont system. Piedmont Prompt Care and Occupational Medicine Harlem is located at 1331 Appling Harlem Road.
The facility opens for patients June 6, and is open initially Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for Occupational Medicine, and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. for Prompt Care. The hours will be extended as demand increases. Prompt Care is a walk-in service for non-emergency care like fever, flu, viruses, sore throats, cough, strains, sprains, minor lacerations, minor broken bones, eye irritation and asthma. Occupational Medicine is a service in which Piedmont’s clinical team partners with local businesses to complete their pre-employment testing and develop plans to help keep their employees well, manage their illnesses and lower healthcare costs for everyone involved.
Piedmont was the first health system to establish a footprint in Columbia County, 40 years ago on the former University Health Care System campus on North Belair Road. Those hospital leaders anticipated the suburban growth west of Augusta, and that the families who moved there would want high-quality health care services closer to home. That campus is home to Piedmont’s first Prompt Care, which was the first urgent care service in this region. Piedmont continues to invest in that campus, and today it is thriving. Their second Columbia County location is a Prompt Care and Primary Care combination in Grovetown, the medical home of many Columbia County residents.
"This, Piedmont’s third Columbia County location, is particularly exciting because of its potential to empower families, businesses and industry to take better care of their health, minutes from where they live and work," said Lily Henson, M.D., Piedmont Augusta CEO. "We are grateful for the opportunity to bring these services to Harlem, and we look forward to becoming a mainstay in this community."
Piedmont has placed Primary, Prompt and Occupational Medicine and Specialty Care Centers on 13 campuses across Columbia, Richmond and Aiken counties. Data shows that baby boomers tend to prefer an ongoing relationship with a Primary Care physician. But when today’s busy young professionals get sick, they will forgo that relationship for a quick, walk-up diagnosis and treatment plan.
"Thankfully, Piedmont can appeal to the preferences of all generations," Dr. Henson said. "And when you enter any Piedmont location, you have the added assurance of having chosen the highest quality provider in the region as ranked by the Leapfrog Group, US News and World Report and multiple other rating agencies. I’m proud of our great staff and physicians, and the impact they continue to make on our community, making a positive difference in every life we touch."