JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Jan. 14, 2010) - Two of the most recognized health care leaders in Northeast Florida are uniting to offer urgent care patients a broader continuum of care for their medical needs.

Solantic walk-in urgent care and Baptist Health of Northeast Florida today announced their agreement to form an integrated, co-branded urgent care network in the greater Jacksonville area.  The partnership will include all nine of the existing Solantic urgent care centers in North Florida, which will be jointly owned 50/50 by Solantic and Baptist, but will continue to be managed and staffed by Solantic.

The centers will be renamed Solantic Baptist Urgent Care in April 2010, once integration efforts are complete.  Baptist and Solantic intend to grow the urgent care network, with three additional Jacksonville locations planned this year.

As it is the mission of both organizations to provide patients with access to quality, affordable health care, the joint venture is an important step in providing citizens of the Northeast Florida community an enhanced patient experience by offering even more access to continuity of care.

“Urgent care is a dimension of healthcare delivery that Baptist considers important to include as part of our comprehensive community health system,” said Hugh Greene, Baptist President and CEO.  “As we have studied urgent care and considered many strategies for how to most effectively offer this service to the community, Solantic has emerged as the natural choice. Solantic is distinguished by the fact that board-certified physicians staff each of its centers. In addition, its high level of patient satisfaction is one of many indicators that Karen Bowling and her team have built a highly effective and successful model for urgent care.”

“While the services we offer are different, Solantic and Baptist Health’s mission and values are very similar,” said Karen Bowling, CEO of Solantic.  “Baptist has long maintained an outstanding reputation for its commitment to the community and to its patients.  I cannot think of a better partner for Solantic and look forward to what we will be able to accomplish together.”

The partnership will allow Baptist and Solantic to create a more integrated network that connects urgent care to the broader resources of a comprehensive health system.

“We intend to make it easy for Solantic patients who need follow-up care to leave the urgent care center with an appointment to a primary care or similarly appropriate physician in their hands,” Greene said. “In essence, while always honoring the patient’s choice, we will seek to make the referral process an effortless and seamless one for the patient.  Our collective vision is to help more people manage their ongoing health needs.”

“This partnership will allow us to coordinate care and focus on ways to reduce the costs of healthcare for the benefit of the patients,” Bowling added.   “Additionally, we expect Baptist Health will be very helpful in educating patients about when to use urgent care, as a recent study conducted by our company indicated some people are still confused about the services provided at urgent care centers as well as when urgent care is appropriate.”

Solantic’s current North Florida market coverage includes locations in Arlington, Mandarin, Neptune Beach, Northside, Orange Park, Southside, St. Augustine, Westside and Yulee (inside WalMart).  A tenth center will open in the Miramar Plaza in San Marco March 25 and a Beaches and Hodges center in May.

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About Solantic

Since its founding in 2001, Solantic has been a leader in applying retail concepts to the practice of urgent care medicine.  Referred to in the media as the “Starbucks of healthcare,” Solantic was the first to post its simplified, three-tiered pricing on large menu boards in centers, display wait times on queue monitors, offer online registration, Solantic gift cards and a guarantee on its services—if you don’t feel better, return to Solantic and be treated for free.

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Solantic is the fastest growing urgent care company in Florida, currently operating 30 centers, with aggressive plans to expand in 2010 through hospital joint ventures and franchising with physicians.

In addition to urgent care, Solantic also provides workers comp’ and occupational medicine and a range of lab services, immunizations, physicals, wellness testing and prescriptions on-site.  Centers are staffed by board-certified physicians and are open seven days a week, with extended evening and weekend hours. For additional information visit www.solantic.com.

About Baptist

Baptist Health is a faith-based, mission-driven system comprised of Baptist Medical Center Downtown and Baptist Heart Hospital; Baptist Medical Center Beaches; Baptist Medical Center Nassau; Baptist Medical Center South; and Wolfson Children’s Hospital – Jacksonville’s only children’s hospital.

All Baptist Health hospitals, along with Baptist Home Health Care, have achieved Magnet™ status, an international quality designation that recognizes excellence in patient care. Baptist Health also includes cardiology and cardiovascular surgery services; a comprehensive cancer center; orthopaedic institute; women’s resource center; neurosciences, including neurosurgery and two Joint Commission-certified stroke centers; a full range of psychology and psychiatry services; outpatient facilities; urgent care services and a network of primary care physicians’ offices throughout Northeast Florida.

Baptist Health is the official healthcare provider for the Jacksonville Jaguars. For more information, visit www.e-baptisthealth.com. For information on Wolfson Children’s Hospital, visit www.wolfsonchildrens.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Mary Green

Director, Communications/Public Relations

Solantic

marygreen@solantic.com

Office: 904.312.5374

Cindy Hamilton

Director, Corporate Communications/Public Relations

Baptist Health

Cindy.Hamilton@bmcjax.com

Office:  904.202.4907

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If you’re thinking about your New Year’s health resolutions, Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care and the American Heart Association can help. The AHA has set a few long-term resolutions of its own, all aimed at helping you improve your cardiovascular health. And you can stop by any Solantic urgent care center for a thorough, personalized health assessment.

The AHA recently defined “ideal cardiovascular health” for the first time recently, identifying seven health factors and lifestyle behaviors that lead to a healthier, stronger heart. The goal is to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent and reduce deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent – all by the year 2020.

Dubbed “Life’s Simple 7,” the AHA-identified healthy heart factors for adults as:

•    Never smoked or quit more than one year ago
•    Body mass index less than 25 kilograms per square meter
•    Physical activity of at least 150 minutes (moderate) or 75 minutes (vigorous) each week
•    Four to five of the key components of a healthy diet consistent with current AHA guideline recommendations
•    Total cholesterol of less than 200 mg/dL
•    Blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg
•    Fasting blood glucose less than 100 mg/dL

The new stated goals come on the heels of the AHA’s successful effort to reduce death by heart disease and stroke by 25 percent by 2010. You can get started on your own 2020 healthy heart plan today by scheduling a physical at any one of our nearly 30 Solantic urgent care centers located throughout Florida. We offer basic annual physicals tailored for children and youth to 17 years old; adults 18-44; and adults 45 and older. Specialized physicals for athletes and executives also are available, as are OSHA and DOT/DOE physicals that may be required for certain jobs such as driving any commercial vehicle. If you’re planning a surgery, Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care also offers pre-op physicals to assure you’re healthy enough to undergo a successful operation.

With each physical, a Solantic physician will let you know exactly where your health, including your cardiovascular health, stands. This will help determine your best cardiovascular health improvement plan, getting you started on both your own New Year’s health resolutions and the AHA’s 2020 heart-healthy America plan. Browse our website to find a Solantic Walk-In Urgent Care location near you, make an appointment and even have directions to our offices texted to your phone.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Solantic, the rapidly growing walk-in urgent care company that introduced the three-day feel better guarantee and a transparent menu board with up-front pricing, today announced the launch of its newest offering: the Solantic Card.

A cash-value card that works like a retail gift card, the Solantic Card provides a unique and convenient way to cover expenses provided at Solantic’s 29 existing centers throughout Florida, with additional centers opening soon in downtown Orlando and West Palm Beach.

In addition to urgent care, Solantic offers wellness services (a broad range of physicals, immunizations and blood testing for diseases and medical conditions), workers’ compensation and occupational medicine services.

Solantic prices are extremely fair, as evidenced by twin studies published in the September 1 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.  The studies conducted by the Rand Corp. revealed that the average cost of care in a retail clinic is $110, while the average cost in a hospital emergency room is $570, and $156 for the same treatment in an urgent care center.  The average cost of urgent care treatment at Solantic is $112.

More specific to Solantic’s pricing, a 2008 study conducted by Sarasota-based research firm Healthcare Management Decisions Inc., revealed that Jacksonville health care consumers could save more than $112 million per year – or $583 in cost savings per visit – if the patient had visited Solantic for the same ailment rather than an emergency room.  Studies conducted in Vero Beach and Central Florida revealed similar per-visit savings results.

Following is a partial list of services and related prices that the Solantic Card can be used to pay for:

URGENT CARE

Basic:  $89 (A medical condition that is minimally complicated and requires minor treatment).

Moderate: $149 (A medical condition that requires more detailed services, such as expanded medical evaluation, testing and treatment).

Complex:  $229 (A medical condition(s) requiring a more comprehensive evaluation, which could include testing and procedures).

WELLNESS BLOOD TESTING

Anemia Panel:  $40

Diabetes Panel:   $50

Basic Cardiac Panel:  $75

Heartburn/Ulcer Panel:  $150

Liver Panel:  $175

OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE

Tuberculosis Skin Test:  $10

Florida Drug-Free Workplace 5, 8 or 10-panel drug screen:  $25

DOT Physicals:  $50

Solantic Cards can be purchased in increments of $25, beginning as low as $25 and as high as $500 per card.  When using the Solantic Card, the card holder simply presents the card at the conclusion of his/her visit to pay for services rendered.   Card balances can be checked online, there is no expiration date, and additional value can be added to the card at any time.

The Solantic Card was concepted as a solution for those seeking to supplement high-deductible health insurance plans, to cover co-pays, for the self-employed, and for occupational health and wellness services.

It is also an attractive option for employers who don’t provide traditional health benefits, but are looking for alternatives to ensure employees seek the medical care they need, according to Solantic president and chief executive officer Karen Bowling.

“With the many changes that have occurred in the healthcare arena it recent years, it simply made sense to offer the broad range of consumers a convenient means to pay for affordable medical care,” Bowling said.  “By purchasing a Solantic Card for themselves or others, buyers are recognizing the gift of good health and have an alternative for handling health and wellness expenses.”

The Solantic Card is available at all Solantic walk-in urgent care centers.

For more information about the Solantic Card, visit www.SolanticCard.com.  For more information about Solantic walk-in urgent care or for center locations, hours and services, visit www.solantic.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Mary Green

Director, Communications/Public Relations

Solantic

marygreen@solantic.com

Office: 904.312.5374

Cell: 904.524.2137

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Solantic walk-in urgent care is making it easier for consumers to take charge of their own health with a new wellness testing program now being offered at the company’s 30 centers statewide.

The service combines between three and 12 related blood tests and appropriate ancillary testing for disease or condition-specific panels that can serve as an indicator of an individual’s health risks or help identify hidden issues that can cause serious medical problems.  The tests can also serve as a benchmark for those who are concerned about their risk for inherited diseases.

The 14 wellness testing panels offered – some of which are gender-specific – range from anemia, arthritis, cholesterol and cancer panels to fatigue and nutritional panels.

“We realize that many people are interested in their overall wellness as it may relate to their specific concerns,” says Solantic chief medical officer Nathan Newman, M.D. “Although we already offered a full complement of blood tests as individual single tests, with this program we grouped complementary lab test that might be helpful evaluating symptoms, diseases and illnesses.”

Testing is easy, convenient and affordable.  Patients can log onto Solantic’s website (www.solantic.com) or visit the nearest Solantic center to review the tests available and make their selection(s).  Once a selection has been made, the patient’s blood and other appropriate samples are drawn and sent to a certified laboratory for testing.  Prices for wellness testing panels are all-inclusive and are substantially less expensive less than comparable lab tests.

After test results are received, a Solantic physician will review the results, highlight any areas of concern, then mail the results directly to the patient home for follow-up with the patient’s physician.

“Surprisingly, with the exception of some online companies, there are few-to-no programs of this type in existence based on our research” says Solantic CEO Karen Bowling.  “Too often people wait until they have symptoms to go to a doctor,” she added.  If we can save one life by making access to blood tests and blood pressure screenings easier, we will have made a significant difference with this program. 

Below is a full list of available wellness panels available at Solantic and pricing:

• Anemia Panel - $75
• Arthritis Panel - $50 (Basic); $200 (Comprehensive)
• Cancer Panel -  $300 (Female); $110 (Male)
• Cardiac Panel - $75 (basic); $275 (Comprehensive)
• Cholesterol Panel - $50 (Basic); $150 (Comprehensive)
• Diabetes Panel - $50
• Fatigue Panel - $30
• Heartburn/Ulcer Panel - $150
• Hormonal Panel - $350
• Kidney Panel - $30
• Liver Panel - $175
• Nutritional Panel - $325
• STD Panel - $185
• Toxic Environmental Panel - $375

Alternatively, consumers can order individual tests and immunizations from Solantic’s A La Carte menu of services.  A sampling of services and associated pricing is below:

• Basic Metabolic Profile:  $20
• Blood pressure:  $20
• Cholesterol:  $35
• EKG:  $65
• Glucose:  $20
• Hepatitis B Vaccine:  $75
• Meningitis Vaccine:  $125
• Pneumonia Vaccine:  $60
• PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen):  $35
• Pulmonary Function:  $40
• Uric Acid:  $20

For more information about Solantic’s wellness services or for center locations, hours and additional services offered, visit www.solantic.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Mary Green

Director, Communications/Public Relations

Solantic

marygreen@solantic.com

Office: 904.312.5374

Cell: 904.524.2137