HCA Midwest Health System and CareSpot to Establish Urgent Care Centers in the Greater Kansas City Area

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- HCA Midwest Health System and CareSpot have established a joint venture to bring as many as six urgent care centers to the Greater Kansas City area starting in early 2013 and continuing throughout the year. The new partnership would make CareSpot and HCA Midwest the leading urgent care provider in the area.

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Convenient, high-quality healthcare

"Urgent care is an important aspect of HCA Midwest Health System's vision to provide our community with a quality, comprehensive health system," says M.L. Lagarde, president of HCA Midwest. "Our expertise as a health network can best bridge the continuum of care between urgent, primary and acute care. Our partner, CareSpot, has a proven track record of delivering a highly convenient, less expensive alternative to emergency room visits for non-emergency injuries and illnesses. Our partnership represents a significant step forward in bringing increased access to extraordinary and affordable healthcare in the communities that we serve."

"Our joint venture with HCA Midwest is an exciting opportunity to partner with a well-known, high-quality healthcare provider in the Kansas City area, expand our base beyond Florida and Tennessee, and move into other markets where there is strong demand for urgent care centers," said CareSpot CEO Michael D. Klein. "Customers want more convenient, high-quality healthcare, and that's what we'll deliver. Online and mobile scheduling tools at CareSpot.com allow customers to book appointments, compare center wait times, and even save a spot in line -- this helps them easily get in and out so they can start feeling better quickly."

The new urgent care centers will offer healthcare services to treat non-emergent medical problems that can develop unexpectedly and require immediate attention, filling the gap between primary care physicians and hospital emergency rooms. This partnership offers patients the staffing benefits and expertise of a proven network of urgent care centers combined with the broader resources of a large hospital system if a higher level of care is required. The new centers will operate as CareSpot in partnership with HCA Midwest Health System. CareSpot will manage daily operations.

CareSpot is the largest urgent care provider in Florida

With nearly 500,000 patient visits each year, CareSpot operates 30 urgent care centers in Florida and is the largest urgent care provider in the state. Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, the urgent care company currently employs more than 500 people and plans to double in size over the next 18 months.

About HCA Midwest Health System

HCA Midwest Health System is the Kansas City area's largest healthcare network, consisting of 10 hospitals, outpatient centers, clinics, physician practices, surgery centers and an array of other services to meet the healthcare needs of the greater Kansas City area. It is also the area's largest private-sector employer with more than 8,400 employees. HCA Midwest facilities serving the Kansas City area include Research Medical Center, Research Psychiatric Center, Centerpoint Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center, Lee's Summit Medical Center, Belton Regional Medical Center, Lafayette Regional Health Center, Allen County Hospital and Cass Regional Medical Center.  Midwest Physicians, which is part of HCA Midwest, is a network of experienced, multi-specialty physicians located throughout the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area.  Midwest Physicians currently represents 278 physicians, including 104 primary care providers and 174 specialists with 77 physician practices providing care in 136 locations to serve the community.  The physicians, licensed professionals and support staff who comprise the HCA Midwest team are dedicated to improving healthcare in the Greater Kansas City and outlying areas by focusing on five guiding principles: Quality, Service, People, Growth and Value. For more information on HCA Midwest Health System, visit hcamidwest.com.

About CareSpot

CareSpot centers offer a wide range of healthcare services such as urgent care, wellness testing and occupational health services. The 3,500 sq. ft. centers feature multiple exam rooms, on-site lab testing and X-ray capabilities. CareSpot CEO Michael D. Klein -- formerly CEO of Franklin, Tenn.-based Renal Advantage -- came on board in May 2011. Klein and his management team are building a more innovative, consumer-focused urgent care company. CareSpot has aggressive growth plans in desirable markets through new site development, joint ventures and strategic acquisitions. Visit CareSpot.com to learn more.

SOURCE CareSpot