Top 5 reasons to visit the new NCH Outpatient Care Center at Harper College

This month, Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH) opened a brand-new Outpatient Care Center at Harper College, caring for students, staff and the outlying community seven days a week. The Outpatient Care Center is part of the state-of-the-art Foglia Foundation Health and Recreation Center (Building M) at 1200 West Algonquin Road in Palatine.

We asked one of the Outpatient Care Center’s primary care physicians (PCPs), Mukesh Kumar, M.D. to share why patients should visit.

Dr. Kumar describes the Outpatient Care Center as a hybrid healthcare center where patients with serious and chronic medical problems can be treated. It combines immediate care center services but also serves as a PCP office. Patients will appreciate the Outpatient Care Center’s extended and early hours. They can make an appointment for preventive checks such as annual physicals, employment physicals, occupational health and Medicare wellness visits.

“For minor or serious problems, patients can walk in at any time,” Dr. Kumar says. “The most common problems for students might be upper respiratory infections, sore throats, earaches, pink eye, asthma, bronchitis and bladder problems.”

“We can also see patients with a variety of chronic problems including diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, or cholesterol problems,” he says. “There are many specific scenarios.”

Dr. Kumar’s top five reasons for visiting the Outpatient Care Center are:

1. It has a great location. It’s extremely convenient, located in Building M, right off Harper College’s Algonquin Road entrance.
2. It’s staffed with friendly, qualified staff members and providers.
3. It has extended hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
4. It also provides other services, including physical therapy.
5. It offers imaging, lab work, occupational and student health services.

“We have everything right here for primary and immediate care,” Dr. Kumar explains.

Dr. Kumar says the Outpatient Care Center is another option for your immediate healthcare needs. One example he offered is a patient who has a history of asthma and suddenly experiences a flare up.

“He or she can be treated here with breathing treatment and it could be lifesaving,” he says. “Another example is someone who is having some shortness of breath or a cough for the last few days. If we find that they have pneumonia, it can be easily treated in the initial stages.”

The standard protocol for more serious patients is to transport them to Northwest Community Hospital’s Emergency Department, he adds.

Primary care is just a step away from the classroom, making it easy for students and staff to go straight from school or work to the doctor’s office.

The Outpatient Care Center is staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, X-ray technicians and other qualified staff ready to treat patients with compassion.

The Health and Recreation Center also includes a suspended jogging track, a four-court field house, fitness studios, cardio machines, strength training equipment and much more. Furthermore, an Olympic-size pool within the new Health and Recreation Center offers an opportunity for physical therapy exercises or lap swimming. The pool is operated by the Palatine Park District. The Health and Recreation Center will officially open August 20.

“We’ll be able to treat every age group, and almost all of the day-to-day conditions or medical problems,” Dr. Kumar says. “I think this is a unique relationship and it will be a big success for this community.”

Want to make an appointment? Call 847-618-0121. Learn more at nch.org/harper.