Hometown ER Doctors Are Filling An Urgent Need In Franklin’s Healthcare Space
Article by Ed Atlas
Originally published in Franklin Lifestyle
On a typical day you’ll see walk-in medical clinics at practically every supermarket, pharmacy, and office park in Franklin. But what happens on that atypical day when you actually need that service? Where do you go for prompt treatment of an accidental injury, relentless congestion, or that concerning chest or abdominal pain?
Physicians Urgent Care is a source that should be at the top of your list. Founded in 2011, Physicians Urgent Care (PUC) is the only walk-in clinic in the area that is locally owned by doctors who are formally trained in emergency medicine. They met while working in local emergency rooms and decided to open the clinic as a way to bridge the gap between the retail outlets and hospital emergency rooms.
“If you have chest pains, other walk-in clinics will send you to the ER but we can determine if that’s even necessary,” says Dr. Nabil Boutros, a PUC founding partner. “We can determine quickly whether or not you need to be admitted. If you don’t, we can do everything that they’d do at the ER for a fraction of the cost.”
PUC is designed with the patient in mind and if you walk -in moments before closing time, PUC will take care of you for as long as it takes.
As an Air Force veteran, Boutros is one of three partners with military experience. One of the others, Dr. Jason Rubino, who served in the Navy, says that it’s not unusual for military physicians to gravitate toward emergency medicine. “In general, the military mindset transitions to emergency medicine,” says Rubino. “You have to be able to react quickly under pressure.”
Physicians Urgent Care employs physician’s assistants, at least one of the partners is on-call at all times, and the clinic recently added primary care to its scope of services. PUC offers flu shots and was one of the first in the area to offer Covid-19 vaccines and monoclonal antibody infusions. “We encourage the vaccine for all who are eligible but we respect the decisions of those who choose otherwise,” says Dr. Rubino. “We will treat anyone, regardless of their vaccination status.”
There are two Physicians Urgent Care locations in Franklin and one in Brentwood. For locations and up-to-date information about clinic hours and available services, please visit PhysiciansUrgentCare.com.
PHYSICIANS URGENT CARE PARTNERS
Dr. David Whetstone attended East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine. He currently serves on the Critical Care Committee at Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital and is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Dr. Jeffrey St. Amant received his medical degree from the University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Medicine. Dr. St. Amant worked as a firefighter for the city of Auburn from 1996 -2001 and joined the U.S. Air Force prior to medical school in 2002.
Dr. Jason Rubino began his medical career as an officer in the U.S. Navy after graduation from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He received additional training and experience in tropical medicine, field medicine/mass casualty, and aerospace medicine.
Dr. Nabil Boutros served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force from 1997 to 2004. Dr. Boutros has served as Chairman of the Emergency Department at St. Thomas Rutherford Medical Center.
Dr. Brady Allen completed medical school and residency at the University of Virginia. At Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, he serves as the Chair of the Emergency Medicine Department and is the head of the Patient Safety Committee.
Dr. Stephen Anderson graduated from East Tennessee State University J. H. Quillen College of Medicine. He is an attending Emergency Physician at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital and is board-certified in Emergency Medicine.
