LifeLong Medical Care Partners with Sutter Health to Offer Immediate Care in the Heart of Berkeley

LifeLong Medical Care, in partnership with Sutter Health, will offer same-day care for urgent medical needs starting today at 2001 Dwight Way in Berkeley. East Bay residents, especially those on Medi-Cal or without insurance, now have another location to help meet their urgent medical needs. The LifeLong Berkeley Immediate Care Center is located inside of the Herrick Campus of Sutter Health’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley.

“There is a huge need for immediate care in our community,” says DL Poole, Chief Administrative Officer of LifeLong Medical Care. “We at LifeLong and our partners at Sutter Health believe everyone deserves timely access to quality care, and we don’t want people wasting time and money going to the Emergency Room for conditions like a fever or strep throat, when they can get care faster and more efficiently at our Immediate Care Center.”

The LifeLong Berkeley Immediate Care Center is one of two operated by LifeLong Medical Care in Alameda and Contra Costa counties that offers same-day care for urgent medical needs. Last spring LifeLong opened an immediate care center in San Pablo, spurred by the closure of Doctors Medical Center and support from regional partners. LifeLong operates several health centers throughout the Bay Area that serve approximately 46,000 patients each year. Most are low-income residents on Medi-Cal, Medicare, managed care plans through Covered California or people without insurance. LifeLong offers a sliding scale based on income.

“At our core, LifeLong truly believes all people are entitled to quality health care, regardless of their background, health or insurance status,” explains Marty Lynch, Executive Director and CEO, LifeLong Medical Care.

The expanded hours at the LifeLongBerkeley Immediate Care Center are part of a longstanding partnership LifeLong Medical Care has with Sutter Health. More than 25 years ago this strong relationship began through a collaboration with Alta Bates Summit Medical Center for primary care services for low income residents.

“Caring is our mission and access to care for everyone regardless of their insurance status is essential,” explains Steve O’Brien M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Alta Bates Summit. “Members of our community

who are uninsured, homeless or living in poverty frequently use Emergency Rooms for their primary health care. These patients account for almost half of non-life-threatening visits to ERs. Both LifeLong and Sutter have a mission of caring for our community.”

In additional to offering same-day medical care for adults and children, the Berkeley Immediate Care Center offers various lab tests, HIV testing, and adult vaccines on site. No appointments or referrals are needed. The center is open Monday through Friday, noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on LifeLong’s Berkeley Immediate Care Center, call (510) 204-7979.