New evening “care clinic” at My Family Doctor in West Seattle

A new service from Dr. Terrill Harrington of My Family Doctor (WSB sponsor) – he’s trying the concept of an evening “care clinic” to see if there’s a demand for it. After regular office hours end at 4:30 pm, he’s reopening 6-9 pm for the care clinic. As Dr. Harrington explains it, it’s for people who don’t feel well and want to see a doctor but are having a hard time getting an appointment with their regular doctor or can’t take time off work in the middle of the day. His clinic is a bridge between you and your regular provider – after you see him, he can get in touch with your regular doctor for a full report on what happened, and he’ll check to make sure you connected with your regular provider. For now, he’s staffing the clinic himself, till it’s clear how much need there is; he was inspired to try it after looking at stats regarding why people visit the ER – many, he said, do so not because it’s truly an emergency but because they’re not feeling well and couldn’t get a timely appointment to see their provider, or because they have a sick child who seems to need immediate attention. He stresses this isn’t meant to replace an ER for major problems, and he’ll send you there if it seems more appropriate. His clinic’s at 3623 SW Alaska (map); phone (206) 362-8671 (that’s 206-DOCTOR-1).

Sue September 16, 2009 (10:09 pm)

What a wonderful idea! I’ve had a few times when I’ve needed to see a doctor other than my primary care dr., and have had to run to urgent care on Denny Way to do so. It would be nice to have an option locally!

homesweethome September 17, 2009 (6:39 am)

excellent idea – not that we hope to visit soon, but glad to see this in our area

Caffeine Queen September 17, 2009 (7:00 am)

I would much prefer to be the in hands of a great, local doctor instead of stuck in an emergency room. He’s really bringing back the idea of your local family doctor.

lashanna September 17, 2009 (7:22 am)

yahoo!! that is so awesome. we go to the dentist in the same building- they are all awesome. it doesn’t shock me at all that they are trying to change up their schedule to help the community. Evening appt. help people w/ multiple jobs, parents….

Al September 17, 2009 (8:25 am)

Excellent! We could have used this several times last year. Thank you Dr. Harrington!

toniw September 17, 2009 (8:48 am)

Wow! This is a very helpful idea. I’ll tell everyone I know. I hope he does well.

natinstl September 17, 2009 (10:02 am)

Dr. Harrington is great. He really takes the time to talk with his patients so I’m not suprised that he’s doing something like this.

CA September 17, 2009 (12:20 pm)

This is awesome! I wish I worked there!

sacatosh September 17, 2009 (2:18 pm)

This is FANTASTIC.
Especially given that we don’t have a local ER or Urgent Care.

It’s invariably the case that a bout with the Shingles or some other urgent but non-emergent situation comes up on a Friday evening at 5, where your option is to suffer through a weekend or clog up an ER with a non-emergency.

This truly fills a gap. Way to go!

Michael September 17, 2009 (2:37 pm)

Congrats Dr. Harrington! Nice to see someone open late like us! Now we have somewhere to send people when they come in sick and really should be seeing a DR.

Are you going to do this over weekends too?

Michael Mandell, LMP
WSB Sponsor as well!

mar3c September 17, 2009 (2:43 pm)

“It’s invariably the case that a bout with the Shingles or some other urgent but non-emergent situation comes up on a Friday evening at 5”
.
lol
.
or “piles.” both of these old-time terms used to cause me great astonished wonder when i was a kid. i know now that the situations themselves aren’t funny, but the words have always made me giggle. they’re just two words that don’t seem to jibe with human anatomy.

Molly September 17, 2009 (9:17 pm)

This place is a great after hours urgent care solution!! I got in a car accident and did not have a major injury. I went to get checked out and it was so much nicer than spending 4 hours in the ER. The doctor and staff are really friendly and professional. Please recommend their after hours (6-9pm)clinic to your friends so they can keep it going!!

Rachel September 18, 2009 (9:28 pm)

I have always felt that Dr. Harrington is definitely one of the best PCP’s in Seattle. Now I know how much he cares, not only for patients, but also for the state of healthcare today. The amount of money wasted by people going to the ER is insane! What a great service Dr. Harrington is providing and how lucky we are to have him in West Seattle!

Rich September 19, 2009 (11:34 am)

Great Doc, great clinic, great idea opening it at night. Good to see Dr. Harrington expand his hours and help patients avoid an ER visit or wait till next day for an appointment.

Claire September 20, 2009 (2:59 pm)

Dr. Harrington is truly a very caring doctor – we are so lucky to have him in West Seattle! This after-hours clinic is a brilliant idea and I hope it helps to cut down on all the unnecessary trips to the ER.

sam September 20, 2009 (10:00 pm)

It is a great idea. we may see you tomorrow ! or the next day
(we can’t get an appt. with our kid’s doc til 9/30) lol

jsmith September 28, 2009 (9:13 pm)

Wow this after hours clinic has only been available for a few weeks and I have already needed it. Last week my 2 year old had a fever and ear ache of course after our doctors office was closed for the eve. Luckly I had seen this on the blog. We were in and out quickly. It was so nice to have a choice other than the ER or waiting all night with a miserable child. I would recommended this clinic to anyone seeking after hours care.

Ada October 7, 2009 (7:44 pm)

While walking at the beach tonight I had a bad fall trying to avoid a biker. Thank goodness for Dr. Harrington and his urgent care clinic! He closed the gash on my leg and took time to listen to me complain about rude bicyclists. A walk-in clinic is just what West Seattle needs. GO DR. H!

grr October 8, 2009 (9:55 am)

Dr. T is the best :)

Amy October 18, 2009 (8:39 pm)

Dr. Harrington is great with my newborn and he’s helped me a great deal as a new mom. I am so glad to have this evening clinic available in West Seattle!

John November 3, 2009 (8:35 am)

This Urgent Care Clinic in West Seattle is great. It’s open Monday through Thursday from 6pm to 9pm. And the doctor is THERE UNTIL 9pm, no matter how many people walk through the door. No need to call in advance – first come first served. When my child came home after school not feeling well, it was too late in the day to get a same day appointment with his doctor. Instead I got to this Urgent Care Clinic at 6 pm and he was seen immediately – no backlog of patients. The staff gets you in an examination room fast. No more waiting for hours at an emergency room with other SICK people coughing around you. You will have the best of care. It doesn’t matter who your primary care physician is — this clinic will see you. They accept your insurance just like a regular visit to your doctor. And if you need hospitalization, this clinic has privileges at Swedish Hospital, Highline Medical Clinic and Children’s Hospital. You just can’t go wrong with this Urgent Care Clinic in West Seattle.

ca November 5, 2009 (12:18 pm)

I am sooo glad Dr. Harrington had this great idea of the late hours. I had been sick for over a month, my regular doctor so hard to get into and really didn’t want that wait/bill for ER. I kept putting off my sickness and finally remembered he had this new option for his clinic! I went in last night was in and out within 30min (vs 4+hrs at ER) got meds and diagnosed. He listened to me throughly! I recommend My Family Doctor vs ER!! Mon-Thur 6-9pm no appt needed!

Ingrid M November 22, 2009 (8:48 am)

I was bitten by a dog on a Saturday afternoon. It wasn’t a terrible bite, but I needed to have it looked at. After calling around for an urgent care place that was open (a near impossible task), I stumbled across Dr. Harrington. I think he was only open for another 15 minutes but stayed late to make sure I got the care I needed for my hand. And to top it off, he had a great sense of humor that put me at ease. I definitely think he’ll be our family doctor for all future care.

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