In this photo, the ribbon cutting ceremony is seen at the new UConn Health urgent care and medical office in Canton, Connecticut on Monday, Oct. 12, 2015. (Courtesy)
The University of Connecticut has opened a new $2 million urgent care and medical office in Canton, Connecticut.
The ribbon cutting ceremony, hosted yesterday, marked the official opening of the new care center, and consisted of various faculty and staff. Other attendees included Canton’s First Selectman Richard Barlow, State Senator Kevin Witkos and State Representative Tim LeGeyt, according to Denis Lafreniere, medical director of the UConn Medical Group.
“We are excited to celebrate our new home in Canton, the community it serves, and UConn Health Canton’s dedicated faculty and staff,” Lafreniere said.
The Canton office is an important project due to the many patients UConn Health receives from the northwestern portion of Connecticut, according to Lafreniere. Residents of that area lack easy access to UConn medical facilities.
“We have had a presence in Simsbury for many years and in Canton for the last two years, “Lafreniere said. “We see the new Canton facility as a way of insuring that our patients in the Connecticut northwest get the best care possible in a convenient location.”
The newly opened office offers 17,000 square feet of space and will provide a variety of healthcare services for the Canton community. Lafreniere outlined the different medical provisions, which included blood drawing, cardiology, radiology, dermatology, surgery, and x-ray.
The university currently holds care centers in Avon, East Hartford, West Hartford, Plainville, Putnam, Simsbury, Southington, Storrs and Farmington, with UConn Health Canton marking the newest addition to an already large array of satellite operations across Connecticut, according to the UConn Health press release.
“UConn Health is proud and thrilled to expand our commitment of excellence and personalized, patient and family centered care to Canton and its surrounding communities,” Lafreniere said.
Urgent care treatment for acute injuries, cold and flu, breaks and sprains, infections, cuts, burns and stitches, is available as well, according to the UConn Health website. Patients will be able to schedule appointments for primary care issues. Among these are disease prevention, maintaining wellness and medical screenings.
Walk in treatment for non-life threatening issues is available from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays, according to the UConn Health press release. No appointment is necessary.
Stone Li is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at stone.li@uconn.edu.
