Allied Physicians Group to open new pediatric urgent care centers in Medford, Franklin Square

Two new centers dedicated to offering parents access to after-hours pediatric urgent care are celebrating their grand openings this week, according to the physicians group behind the facilities.

Melville-based Allied Physicians Group, an independently operated network of pediatricians in the metro area, has opened its first urgent care centers in Medford and Franklin Square. The network of 150 clinicians said the new centers, called Allied Pediatric Urgent Care, will operate out of existing pediatric offices and offer care for children and young adults from 4 p.m. to midnight, and on weekends, without an appointment.

Allied has 36 pediatric offices across Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Westchester, Rockland and Orange counties, according to the doctor network’s website. Most of its locations, 23, are in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

"We really want parents to have options around what works for their life," said Dr. Shannon O'Malley, regional medical director of urgent care and telemedicine for Allied Physicians Group. O'Malley said by housing urgent care centers at existing pediatric offices, setting up follow-up appointments can be done more seamlessly, while overhead costs for Allied are brought down.

Additionally, because the centers will be co-located inside existing practices, Allied's urgent care business will be able to bill a patient's insurance for a traditional sick visit, making co-pays lower than in a standalone urgent care facility, O'Malley said. 

"Money for everybody is tight right now," she said. "We have no urgent care copays when you come to Allied, so you’re getting a sick visit copay, which is a huge difference."

The two new centers, at 2799 Rte. 112, Suite 11 in Medford, and 380 Dogwood Ave. in Franklin Square, will hold ribbon-cutting ceremonies Monday and Thursday, respectively.

The two centers had soft openings at the end of last month and have provided care to 200 patients so far, proving the need is there, O'Malley said. 

The new centers are the first steps of a broader expansion Allied has planned for the region going into the rest of the year, O'Malley said.

The physicians group plans to open an urgent care at an existing pediatric office in Riverhead on Oct. 25, and another on Staten Island on November 2. The company is also looking at potential locations in Westchester and is aiming to have a total of 6 to 9 urgent care locations by the end of the year, O'Malley said.