Beebe walk-in center closing for renovations

The Beebe Medical Center walk-in clinic at Kmart is closing this month, but it plans to reopen with more space and better services in the fall.

The center will close at 7 p.m., Monday, April 30.

The center will reopen in early fall, said Debbie Craft, president and CEO of Beebe Physicians Network. Kmart is a subsidiary of Sears Holdings, Chicago.

When the walk-in clinic opened three years ago in 2009, Beebe officials cited the popular trend of placing medical providers at convenient locations.

Craft said the Kmart location remains popular, and Beebe is still committed to providing convenient medical care there.

“With this expansion we can provide higher quality, more comprehensive service for patients,” Craft said.

Beebe regularly surveys patients and found many using the walk-in center wanted more services.

When the center reopens, patients will be treated for:

• Upper respiratory infections such as sore throats, sinus infections, flu, laryngitis, allergies

• Ear, eye and bladder infections

• Sprains and minor injuries

• Gastrointestinal complaints

• Skin problems such as minor rashes and burns

• Headaches

• Minor cuts and simple lacerations

• Limited medication refills

To bridge the gap while the Kmart center is closed, Beebe will open a Millville walk-in center providing all these services, starting Memorial Day weekend. The Millville center will be located at Creekside Plaza on Route 26.

All employees in Rehoboth will move to the Millville center once the Kmart location closes.

Craft said, “We were concerned about construction closing the center, but we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to expand.”

“The opportunity was now, so we took it,” she said.

Until the Kmart center reopens, Beebe will partner with several Medical Aid locations in the Cape Region. Advertisements and information will be available showing the Medical Aid locations, said Kelly Griffin, spokeswoman for Beebe.

“There will be signs up at Kmart to redirect patients, or they can call the Beebe Physicians Network referral line,” Griffin said.

The clinic served residents and tourists, ages 6 months and older, with common illness including upper respiratory infections, ear infections, sprains and skin conditions such as poison ivy.

Kmart is located at 4634 Route 1, Rehoboth Beach.

Medical Aid walk-in locations

Medical Aid walk-in centers in the Long Neck, Rehoboth Beach and Lewes communities are available to help patients:

Rehoboth: 20468 Coastal Highway; 302-227-2774

Lewes: 1309 Savannah Road; 302-644-1441

Long Neck: Bay Shore Shopping Plaza, 25935 Plaza Drive; 302-947-4111

For more information, go to medicalaidwalkincenter.com.