Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Urgent care services at the North Dirksen Parkway Memorial Care clinic will soon be changing.  Memorial Health and SIU announced Thursday that urgent care services at the location will become a federally qualified health center (FQHC) administered by SIU Medicine. Memorial will continue to operate a primary care clinic with lab and imaging services at that location.

A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) is funded by the federal government to deliver comprehensive health services that are readily available to all patients, irrespective of their insurance status.

“Many patients who use urgent care services at our North Dirksen clinic would benefit from the services of an FQHC,” said Jay Roszhart, president of the Memorial Health Ambulatory Group. “SIU Medicine is a trusted partner for us, and we feel confident that they will help us provide high-quality care at this location for all patients.”

All clinic providers and staff have been given the opportunity to transition their employment to SIU Medicine or relocate to another Memorial Care facility. This transition only pertains to urgent care services and will not disrupt patients or staff at the primary care clinic on the premises. Existing primary care patients can still receive care from their Memorial Care providers and utilize laboratory and imaging services as usual.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to provide acute care services on the north side of Springfield,” said Janet Albers, MD, chair of SIU Family and Community Medicine. “Working alongside Memorial is an ideal way for us to expand access to care for all local residents.”

SIU Medicine currently operates an FQHC at Fourth and Carpenter streets in downtown Springfield, the SIU Center for Family Medicine. The first day of operations for SIU Medicine at the clinic at 3220 Atlanta St. will be Monday, June 3.