Dr. Kwame Asamoah will be medical director and an attending physician at Buda's Emerge Urgent Care, which Asamoah said is the first of its kind in the U.S.[/caption]A first-of-its-kind medical facility will open to the public Jan. 25 in Buda.
Dr. Kwame Asamoah said he believes Emerge Urgent Care, 3420 FM 967, Ste. 100, Buda, will be the first telemedicine-based urgent care center in the United States.
As medical director and one of three attending physicians, Asamoah will be able to see his patients anywhere he has access to Wi-Fi. The facility uses a battery of modern computing equipment to make the examination process as close to a non-telemedicine experience as possible.
“Patients are not limited by us not being here,” Asamoah said. “We can see them from anywhere.”
Telemedicine uses an Internet connection and video-conferencing to bring doctor and patient face to face. In addition Emerge Urgent Care will be equipped with technology that allows the doctor to hear a patient’s heartbeat through a smartphone stethoscope app, and a handheld camera will allow the doctor to view inside the ear canal, Asamoah said.
Featuring four examination rooms, Emerge Urgent Care will see patients of all ages. Under the purview of urgent care is any non-life-threatening medical ailment, such as an ankle sprain, which can be diagnosed using X-ray equipment in the facility.
If the business model in Buda is successful Asamoah said Emerge Urgent Care may expand to other smaller cities in the Central Texas area.
“Buda is kind of our proof of concept,” he said.
The facility will be open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and noon-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun.
For more information visit www.emergeurgentcare.com or call 512-523-8997.
NOW OPEN—WB Liquors & Wine, 151 Evans Drive, Ste. 103, Kyle, opened Dec. 18. WB Liquors sells spirits, beer, wine and mixers. Store Manager Linnea Mandolesi said the store emphasizes customer service and often provides one-on-one assistance to patrons. The San Antonio-based company operates 64 stores in Texas and is the third-largest retail liquor company in the state, Mandolesi said. 512-504-9106. www.wbliquors.com
IN THE NEWS—Greater San Marcos Partnership President Adriana Cruz is among Gov. Greg Abbott’s approved appointments to the state of Texas Economic Incentive Oversight Board. The governor’s office announced the appointments in a news release Jan. 19. Cruz and other members of the board will review the effectiveness and efficiency of state incentive programs as well as funds administered by the governor’s office, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and the department of agriculture. Each program will receive a recommendation from the board to the state Legislature. Abbott decides when the board members’ terms expire.
