Chronic emergency room overcrowding and costs for non-emergency care in California continue to escalate as consumers battle the economics of affordable living and healthcare during an increasingly difficult economic climate. With emergency room costs approximately 700% more than the cost for the same level of medical care at an urgent care facility, it’s a small wonder that according to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, 65 California emergency rooms have closed in the last decade alone. Healthcare has become a privilege rather than a right. Into this contentious setting, Everest Urgent Care launches in Sacramento, offering a new day for consumers where the patient’s health is the first priority.

Located in Sacramento, at 3635 Bradshaw Road, Everest Urgent Care just opened its first 2,800 square foot center, providing area residents with non-emergency medical care regardless of their insurance circumstance.  The state-of-the-art facility features six exam rooms, with one room specifically dedicated to triage, and digital x-ray equipment that will allow patients to take a copy of their x-rays with them upon departure. An on-site laboratory provides a vast majority of medical tests and the on-site pharmacy can fulfill immediate, prescribed patient needs.  In addition to treatment for singular injuries and illnesses, Everest Urgent Care will collaborate with the market’s major health care providers to refer patients, according to their individual ongoing medical needs.

Everest will also provide a host of preventative care features; and occupational health and worker’s comp services for employees and employers. Additionally, Everest’s medical staff will diagnose and treat common sports-related injuries such as sprains, strains, fractures, cuts, bumps and bruises with splints, casts and braces to ensure complete care of injuries. Trauma, open wound care and other more common issues will also be treated by the medical staff of Everest Urgent Care. For individuals bound for domestic or international destinations, Everest Urgent Care can also provide the necessary vaccinations.

Everest Urgent Care CEO, Richard Kerr, has appointed Dr. Jeffrey Moy as lead physician. Moy, who received his MD from University of California, Davis, has extensive medical experience and has served the Sacramento community for over two decades. Center Administrator, Mike Cornelius, will oversee Everest Urgent Care. Cornelius has dedicated the past 20 years to prominent national healthcare companies, focusing on the clinical—accentuating responsive patient needs and developing efficient operational facets.

Kerr envisions the Sacramento center to become the first of many Everest Urgent Care centers throughout the region. Providing non-emergency medical services to a balanced mix of working class residents, businesses, schools, churches as well as public and private agencies, Everest offers compassionate medical care that is both cost-effective and time efficient.

“With only approximately 15% of patients in hospital emergency rooms seen as true emergency cases, 85% of patients that traditionally go to an ER do not have a true medical emergency. There’s a huge gap in service that we can begin to fill, saving people time and money and all of the stress that comes with an unexpected medical occurrence,” said Richard Kerr, CEO.

The community impact of Everest Urgent Care will be dramatic. According to the ACSM American Fitness Index 2012, Sacramento is failing to meet the demand in availability of primary care, with 92.5 primary health care providers per 100,000 persons. The target goal is 105.6. Accessibility to inexpensive healthcare is crucial for the well being of the local residents. This year, The American Fitness Index ranked Sacramento the sixth healthiest city in the nation; the opening of Everest Urgent Care will do its part to move the needle further in favor of the increased well being of Sacramento residents.