Local Moms Learn Strategies To Fight Off Sicknesses Kids Bring Home!

Holly Springs, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/09/2011 -- As the kids head back to school, moms do everything in their power to keep their families healthy. But moms often ignore themselves, not realizing kids bring home a "book bag full of germs" that send thousands of moms to the doctor each year. That's why the local Doctors Express, the first nationally franchised urgent care, is offering local moms Top Ten Tips To Keep Moms Healthy - to keep them standing even when the family gets sick.

"Moms are so worried about taking care of their families when school starts, they forget to take care of themselves," says Doctor Scott Burger, co-founder of Doctors Express. "We definitely see an increase of moms coming into our health centers right after the first few weeks of school and we hear time and time again from these busy moms that they don't have time to get sick. That's why we recommend moms follow our Top Ten Tips To Keep Moms Healthy so moms can keep standing when the troops go down."

Top 5 Sicknesses That School Children Bring Home
(Source: Mayo Clinic)

1. Common Cold (roughly 22 million school days lost each year to the common cold)

2. Stomach Flu

3. Ear Infection

4. Pink Eye

5. Sore Throat

Doctors Express "Top 10 Tips To Keep Moms Healthy"

1)Get early flu shots – Unlike other medical facilities, Doctors Express offers flu shots for the entire family (children age 4 and up). Otherwise, mom often has to travel to the pediatrician for child flu shots and to a separate doctor for herself. Everyone gets their shots in one place at one time with no appointment necessary!

2)Bring your own pen – to the bank, the grocery store, even to touch the ATM. Anything a sick person touches can get infested with germs, including money, mail, ATM keypads, elevator buttons, etc.

3)Use paper – replace hand towels in bathrooms with paper towels. While not as "pretty", paper towels can help get rid of a ton of germs that live in towels.

4)Wash hands – Use soap, warm water and rinse long enough to say the alphabet or sing "Happy Birthday". Recent studies show plain soap and water works just as well, if not better than antibacterial soaps.

5)Get Your Zzzs – The more you sleep, the better your immune system works to fight off illness. Adults need seven to nine hours a night.

6)Exercise…but not too much - 30 – 75 minutes of moderate activity can boost your ability to fight off germs, but long, hard work outs can tire out your immune system so it becomes less effective. One study found that women who walked for 45 minutes, five days a week suffered half as many sick days as couch potatoes.

7)Use a proper hand sanitizer – (at least 60% alcohol) anytime you touch anything someone else might have touched. Make sure you use sanitizer, even under finger nails where germs hide.

8)Clean everything with a disinfecting cleaner – Viruses and bacteria can live up to two hours or longer on doorknobs, toys, TV remote controls, keyboards, mouse pads, refrigerator handles, counter tops, railings, faucets, bathroom floors and more.

9)Wash small cuts and scrapes with soap and water – Apply an ointment, put on a bandage and change the bandage every day until the wound heals. Never touch someone else's wound and wear gloves if you help dress a cut- even if it's your own child.

10)Use toothbrush sanitizer – Studies show the mouth is the number one place for germs. Sanitize your toothbrush daily to eliminate this often overlooked threat.

The Doctors Express Difference

•All patients are handled in a single visit: initial doctor's exam, lab work, x-rays, minor surgical procedures and in-house medication dispensing.

•Every patient is seen by an experienced physician.

•Services are affordable and most insurance, including Medicare, is accepted.

Did You Know?

•Roughly 22 million school days are lost each year to the common cold.

•Moms who walk 45 minutes, 5 days a week, suffer half as many sick days as couch potatoes.

•A study from NC State University finds that kids of working moms have a 200 percent increase in the risk of experiencing overnight hospitalizations, asthma episodes and injuries or poisonings.

Currently, there are 40 Doctors Express centers up and running throughout the country. A total of 113 franchises have been awarded in 23 states and 56 will be operating by the end of this year. The long term goal is to have 1,000 Doctors Express centers across the nation, so that a recognizable, reliable healthcare option is available wherever you travel in the U.S.

About Doctors Express
Doctors Express was founded in Baltimore in 2005 by an emergency room physician and two business executives in Towson, Maryland, seeking a more efficient, affordable and personable system for urgent care patients. Doctors Express walk-in medical centers are sweeping across the country as America's first nationally branded urgent care centers. Doctors Express provides state-of-the-art, non-emergency treatment for acute illness, trauma and sports injuries (including minor surgical procedures) and has on-site laboratory and digital x-ray service. Pre-employment physicals, drug screening and treatment of work related injuries are also available to local employers. Visit DoctorsExpress.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Holly Springs, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/09/2011 -- One ER doc's vision to franchise urgent care nationally is catching on as a cure for our ailing health care system

The Problem: As a young ER doctor in Harlem, Dr. Scott Burger handled life threatening injuries – everything from gunshot wounds to tiger bites. But the doctor's stress didn't come from these cases; it came from long lines of non-emergency cases clogging up his ER- burning out doctors, frustrating patients and draining the system. It was a national healthcare crisis that politicians and the medical community couldn't seem to fix.

Solution: Dr. Burger consulted his old college roommate, a successful entrepreneur and franchisor, to help him with a small undertaking: cure the country's ailing health care system. Their prescription: franchise urgent care nationally with a reliable, recognizable medical center on every corner in America. This solution would take the non-emergency cases out of emergency rooms and provide quick, affordable and accessible healthcare to all Americans. The first Doctors Express Urgent Care Center opened its doors in 2005, in a strip mall right outside Baltimore, MD with Dr. Burger as the top doc. Five years later, 113 Doctors Express franchises have been awarded in 23 states, with a total of 56 centers set to open up by the end of the year. Dr. Burger isn't treating gunshot wounds or tiger bites anymore. Even more exciting - he's making medical history!

Making Medical History:
"I believed we had a great idea to nationally franchise urgent care and our success shows we are truly providing a viable solution to the health care crisis in this country," says Dr. Scott Burger, co-founder of Doctors Express, the first ever nationally franchised urgent care company. "We have learned that when we treat healthcare like most other businesses, with excellent customer service, quick, convenient and affordable treatment, we give families the healthcare solution that's missing in America. We filled a void in healthcare. Investors recognize this and want to buy in."

Prescription for Success:
Dr. Burger knew to be successful, his urgent care chain had to be truly different and provide a wide array of services that families can't get anywhere else, under one roof, seven days a week.

One revolutionary service is Me MD, new technology that allows patients to communicate with the doctor via webcam – high-tech house calls! If the medical problem is not serious and is clearly recognizable, (like a minor rash), Dr. Burger will prescribe medication over the internet. Patients save a trip into the office.

When patients do come in to a Doctors Express, they are always seen by a physician, unlike many other urgent cares. Patients can get x-rays, treatment for broken bones, immunizations, physicals, flu shots and in most cases medications right on the spot – no trips to the pharmacy.

Case Study:
So, say your daughter broke a minor bone on the soccer field.
In the past, you'd have to make four stops - the primary physician for a referral, the radiology center for the x- ray, the orthopedic surgeon for a reading of the x-ray and treatment, then the pharmacy for pain medication – all while your daughter is in pain. At Doctors Express, you get all of this under one roof. It's a one- stop-shop for health care.

Recent studies and statistics show this is the kind of medical care busy Americans are starving for.

Americans Demand Quick, Convenient Care:

• Eighty five percent of the U.S. population is healthy and wants medical treatment to be quick, convenient and affordable.

• Only 29% of primary care doctors have after-hours coverage, and chances are you won't see your regular doctor, even if the office is open late.

• Health Care reform, seeking to provide coverage for all Americans, will mean an additional 40 million people will want to see a doctor while the number of primary care physicians is shrinking.

• The American College of Physicians, the nation's top group of doctors, estimates there will be a shortage of 35,000 to 44,000 primary care physicians for adults by 2025. The Association of American Medical Colleges paints a gloomier picture – saying the country could face a shortage of as many as 150,000 docs by 2025.

• American medical universities have seen a decline in the number of med school students signing up for family medicine courses, dropping more than 25% between 2002 and 2007.

• Urgent care centers are growing with some 8,700 walk-in, stand-alone urgent care centers in the U.S. and some 800 clinics opening every year.

"We knew that urgent care was the way to go, but by nationally franchising, we offer something completely different with Doctors Express – a recognizable, trustworthy health care brand wherever you travel in America," says Dr. Burger. "So if you get sick when you're traveling on business or on vacation, you know you can trust the physicians at Doctors Express, because you've been there before and got treated like royalty."

About Doctors Express
Doctors Express was founded in Baltimore in 2005 by an emergency room physician and two business executives in Towson, Maryland, seeking a more efficient, affordable and personable system for urgent care patients. Doctors Express walk-in medical centers are sweeping across the country as America's first nationally branded urgent care centers. Doctors Express provides state-of-the-art, non-emergency treatment for acute illness, trauma and sports injuries (including minor surgical procedures) and has on-site laboratory and digital x-ray service. Pre-employment physicals, drug screening and treatment of work related injuries are also available to local employers. Visit DoctorsExpress.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Allergists Jammed So Local Urgent Care Fills Urgent Need

Holly Springs, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/07/2011 -- Nearly 40 million Americans are coughing, sneezing and tearing up a lot sooner this year, thanks to early blooms causing allergy season to hit much earlier. Global warming is speeding up the growth of ragweed, the leading hay fever trigger, so allergists are prematurely jammed with weary and wheezy sufferers looking for immediate relief. That's why urgent care centers like Doctors Express, are seeing a huge rise in allergy patients.

"Recent surveys show the average wait time to see a specialist is twenty days and people suffering from allergies don't want to wait that long for relief," says Dr. Scott Burger, co-founder of Doctors Express, the first nationally franchised urgent care with a center in your area. "By treating allergy patients, our urgent care is filling a desperate need in our health care system, especially this year with allergies hitting so many so soon in the season." Why So Many "Achoos!" So Soon

• Climate Change

? Ragweed – Ecologists with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture believe global warming and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide from burning of fossil fuels is supercharging the growth of ragweed, the leading hay fever trigger. Not only is the ragweed growing larger and producing more pollen, the pollen is even more allergenic this year. 27% of Americans who suffer from allergies are sensitive to ragweed.

? Pine Pollen – Studies at Duke University show elevated carbon dioxide increases pollen production of loblolly pines, causing an epidemic of new allergy cases.

• Hygiene Hypothesis We have developed such an indoor lifestyle our children are not exposed to dirt and other outdoor elements, such as pollen. So when children go outside, their bodies go into attack mode and they may develop allergies to certain pollutants, like pollen.

• We've Become Too Clean Allergists say using household cleaning sprays like furniture and glass cleaners and air fresheners more than once a week can lead to allergies.

"People who have never had allergies in the past come to us thinking they have strep, bronchitis, or sinusitis when actually it's allergies," says Dr. Burger.

" These miserable allergy symptoms don't hit conveniently from 9 – 5 on weekdays. We're open full days, seven days a week when your primary docs or allergists aren't even open ."

Make Yourself Comfortable (source: Mayo Clinic):

Allergies are among the most common, but often overlooked, of diseases in the nation. Other than medication, there are ways you can make yourself more comfortable this allergy season.

? If you've been outside, take a shower before going to bed and change into fresh clothing so you don't bring the pollen that may have clung to your skin, hair or clothes onto your sheets. Also, wash your sheets often.

? Close your windows (and opt for air conditioning ) at night if the pollen count is high.

? Avoid outdoor activity early in the morning when pollen levels are at their highest.

? The best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.

? Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, and use a portable HEPA filter in your bedroom.

Top 10 Cities with the Worst Spring Allergies:

Knoxville is ranked the worst city in America to live if you suffer from spring allergies. Did your city make the 2011 list (source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America)?

1. Knoxville, TN

2. Louisville, KY

3. Chattanooga, TN

4. Dayton, OH

5. Charlotte, NC

6. Philadelphia, PA

7. Greensboro, NC

8. Jackson, MS

9. St. Louis, MO

10. Wichita, KS

11. Knoxville, TN

12. Louisville, KY

13. Chattanooga, TN

14. Dayton, OH

15. Charlotte, NC

16. Philadelphia, PA

17. Greensboro, NC

18. Jackson, MS

19. St. Louis, MO

20. Wichita, KS

Media contact: Katy Millberg kmillberg@doctorsexpress.com 919.459.8167

Stacey Hilton shiltgon@doctorsexpress.com 919.459.8163

Sue Yannello syannello@doctorsexpress.com 919.459.8162

We will help you tell this story with:

• Local allergy sufferers who are in misery extra early this year

• A local physician who can talk about allergy treatment and the early rush of allergy patients Doctors Express is seeing this year.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

New Concept in Convenient and Cost Effective Care, Relieves Patients from ER Overcrowding and Prices

Holly Springs, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/31/2011 -- Patients with winter related injuries and sicknesses are filling-up a new, local medical facility that offers patients a more cost effective and quicker alternative to the area's overcrowded emergency rooms. Doctors Express, the nation's first ever nationally franchised urgent care with a center serving the area, is experiencing a tremendous increase in patients this winter who want to see a doctor without long waits and high prices. Doctors Express physicians say they provide one solution to the cost and overcrowding of the ER that spikes during winter months with cold weather-related injuries and illnesses.

"It's common for an ER to report a 50% increase in patients during winter. And those patients are facing an average wait time of more than four hours. The emergency room shouldn't be your first stop for a sprained ankle or the flu," says Dr. Scott Burger, a former emergency room doctor and co-founder of Doctors Express, with several centers serving the local area. "Urgent care centers like Doctors Express are prepared to handle all non-critical patients much quicker and at a fraction of the cost of a visit to the ER."

Most Common Winter Injuries/Sicknesses
- Flu: A CDC report says several states are reporting widespread flu activity picking up . January, February and March are the biggest flu months. Typically, 1 in 5 people get the flu each year.

- Slipping on the Ice: Slipping is the leading cause of spine and back injuries in the U.S.

- Snow blowing: Nearly 6,000 people a year are rushed to ER's. 10% of cases require finger amputations.

- Sledding: Nearly 21,000 kids a year are rushed to ER's. Most injuries are fractures, but 9% are traumatic brain injuries.

- Shoveling/Manual Removal of Snow: More than 118,000 people a year are injured while removing snow.

- Hypothermia: About 700 people die each year from hypothermia.

Doctors Express walk-in medical centers stand out from other urgent cares by offering, under one roof, broken bone treatment, x-rays, medication dispensing and immediate test results. Physicians can also perform minor surgical procedures. The average wait time to see a physician is only 15 – 20 minutes. Centers accept most insurances and for those self insured, the out of pocket cost is much cheaper than the ER.

"We want families to know they have options when it comes to their healthcare. Why wait hours more to be treated by a doctor and possibly spend hundreds more dollars when you don't have to, says Dr. Burger. "At Doctors Express, we offer busy patients a convenient and affordable healthcare option."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

919 drives major national exposure for urgent care franchise through one owner’s story

Holly Springs, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/27/2010 -- Doctors Express, the first nationally franchised urgent care, received major national exposure in August with feature stories on the CBS Early Show and Today Show as well as an article in The Wall Street Journal. 919 Marketing focused the successful public relations campaign on the story of one owner who bought a Doctors Express franchise while still holding down a full time job. The media covered the story because it highlighted a growing trend of white collar workers "moonlighting" by buying a business while still working a day job.

919's media campaign for Doctors Express focused on Joe Castelano, who bought a Doctors Express in Ho-Ho-Kus New Jersey while still working his full time job as a financial services salesman. The story ran in the August 18 edition of The Wall Street Journal and was featured on the Today Show and CBS Early Show a week later.

"Our goal was to increase positive brand awareness for Doctors Express and drive interest from people who are looking to buy a franchise business," says David Chapman, Founder and CEO of 919 Marketing. "After the stories ran on network TV and in The Wall Street Journal, the phones were ringing at the corporate office.

As a result, we accomplished our mission of taking this brand to the national stage and to the targeted audience of potential franchise owners."

In the last year alone, 919 Marketing has generated 300 million media impressions in national media outlets including Fox Business News, The New York Times, Good Morning America, Inc. Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, PEOPLE, and Prevention Magazine.

919 Marketing provides marketing and PR services for a wide range of national clients in various industries, including franchise, healthcare, consumer products, and science and technology companies. Some of 919's most notable clients include Senior Helpers, Doctors Express, Fibrenew International, Chord Buddy, Halo Monitoring, AdvantaClean, CESI Debt Solutions, and TempleTouch Thermometers. For more information on 919 Marketing and their clients, please visit http://www.919marketing.com.

For more information on Doctors Express, please visit http://www.doctorsexpress.com.

About 919 Marketing Company
919 Marketing is a nationally recognized marketing, consulting and public relations firm with a proven track record of helping underdog companies of all sizes discover their competitive advantage and drive profitable business growth. Headquartered just outside of North Carolina's Research Triangle Park, 919 was founded over a decade ago by CEO David Chapman. 919 is an unconventional firm with an uncanny ability to develop winning
marketing strategies for a roster of companies including The Rosetta Stone, Kerr Drug and Jersey Mike's Subs.

919 marketing provides strategic planning, public relations, interactive marketing and creative development services – each utilizing proven processes that have been refined and validated over hundreds of client engagements. For more information, visit www.919marketing.com.

About Doctors Express
Doctors Express is the first national urgent care franchise that offers a consistent, broad range of treatment and service on the spot. With urgent care facilities across the US, patients are treated by licensed medical professionals who are on-site every day, including doctors, nurses, and x-ray technicians guaranteeing the highest quality medical care available. Doctors Express provides treatment for injuries and illnesses while offering a convenient, lower-cost alternative to visiting a hospital emergency room. For more information on Doctors Express or to find a location near you visit http://www.doctorsexpress.com.

Key Words: Doctors Express, 919 Marketing, urgent care franchise, moonlighting, Joe Castelano, David Chapman, Wall Street Journal, Today Show, CBS Early Show, PR agency, PR firm, NC PR Firm, public relations agency, social media agency, marketing firm,

Twitter Pitch: @919marketing generates national coverage for @DoctorsExpress on the CBS Early Show, Today Show, and Wall Street Journal!

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Business Brains and Medical Moxy Team Up For New Solution in Patient Care

Paramus, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/08/2010 -- At a time when Congress is debating over how to radically overhaul the nation's health care system, a local businesswoman and emergency room physician will open a new solution for New Jersey's ailing health care system. Doctors Express, the first national urgent care franchise, will open in Paramus and redefine the patient experience by eliminating long waits associated with doctor's office or emergency room visits. The franchise owners will use a business approach to deliver affordable, efficient, non emergency treatment to almost anyone who walks in. The Doctors Express franchise system is gaining national headlines for its unique franchise concept that will do for urgent care, what, say, Pearle Vision did for glasses. (See USA Today article on Doctors Express) http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2009-07-12-doctors-express-franchise_N.htm

The Paramus Doctors Express walk-in medical center differs because under one roof, experienced physicians will diagnose and treat illnesses as well as x-ray and set broken bones. The centers also include a pharmacy and on-site labs that give quick test results for mono and strep. Plus, the average wait time to see a physician is only 15 – 20 minutes.

Local owners Jennifer Castelano, a former corporate HR manager, and Dr. Robert Malizia, a Princeton graduate and ER physician at Elizabeth's Trinitas Regional Medical Center, will use their business and medical acumen to run the center with red carpet customer service as their number one priority.

"New Jersey needs a fresh approach to medical service and we feel with my business background and Dr. Malizia's medical experience we can provide a new solution with Doctors Express," says Jennifer Castelano who plans to open several more centers in New Jersey. "Patients want to get treated by experienced physicians without sitting all day in a waiting room. We believe Doctors Express is an efficient, low-cost health care solution that will improve access to quality medical care though out the state."

Doctors Express was originally founded by an emergency room physician and two business executives in Towson, Maryland. After they developed a successful business model, they started to franchise with some forty four territories awarded to date. The long term goal is to have some 3,000 centers across the nation, with the Doctors Express logo recognizable no matter where you travel in the U.S.

"So far, Doctors Express franchise owners typically come from corporate America, with a medical background not necessary, but certainly helpful, says Doctors Express franchise CEO Peter Ross. "People like Jennifer Castelano with good management and business skills can efficiently run a medical center because she's used to managing people in a high paced business environment. The medical industry definitely needs this."

Consider this:
- 46 million Americans (1/6 of the population) do not have medical insurance and many do not have a primary physician of choice.
- The American Medical Association reports it takes an average of 18 days to get an appointment with an internist and 30 days for an appointment with a specialist.
- A study by the Physicians Foundation found the number of primary care physicians is shrinking because nearly ½ of our nation's primary care docs, including pediatricians plan to stop practicing or reduce the number of patients they see over the next 3 years.
- The CDC attributes the increase in ER visits partly to the difficulty patients have getting an appointment with their primary physician.

The Doctors Express Difference
- All patients are handled in a single visit: initial doctor's exam, lab work, x-rays, bone setting, minor surgical procedures and medication dispensing.
- Every patient is seen by experienced physicians who are trained to handle severity of illnesses from Level 1 – Level 4.
- Services are affordable and most insurance, including Medicare, is accepted.

The Doctors Express Paramus Urgent Care Center will open January 2010 at 67 East Ridgewood Avenue in the Gurland Plaza. Hours Open : Monday 8a.m. – 10p.m., Tuesday-Friday 8a.m. to 8p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 9a.m. to 6 p.m.

Doctors Express is a full 4 stage urgent care facility with physicians on staff during all business hour. We provide state- of- the- art treatment for acute illness, trauma and sports injuries (including minor surgical procedures) and even have an onsite x-ray service and in-house pharmacy. Pre-employment physicals, drug screening and treatment of work related injuries are also available to local employers. Visit http://www.DoctorsExpress.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Business Brains Hope To Change Industry Not Known For Speed or Efficiency

Beaumont, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/17/2009 -- At a time when Congress is debating different ways to overhaul the nation's health care system, two local business owners will use their business backgrounds to create a new remedy for Beaumont's ailing health care system. Doctors Express , the first national urgent care franchise, will open in Beaumont later this month and redefine the patient experience; eliminating long waits associated with doctor's office or emergency room visits. The owners will use a business approach to deliver affordable, efficient, non emergency treatment to almost anyone who walks in. The Doctors Express franchise will do for urgent care, what, say, Pearl Vision did for glasses. (See USA Today article) http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2009-07-12-doctors-express-franchise_N.htm

The Beaumont Doctors Express walk-in medical center will differ from the roughly 8,000 other urgent cares across the nation by offering a broad range of treatment and services on the spot that are not available at other urgent care centers. Under one roof, experienced physicians will diagnose and treat illnesses as well as x-ray and set broken bones. The center will also include on-site labs that will produce quick test results for ailments such as mono and strep. In addition, the average wait time to see a physician will only take 15 – 20 minutes. And unlike other minor care centers, where patients can, at times, be subject to co-pays in excess of $150, Doctors Express insured patients will pay a smaller urgent care co-pay of typically $20 - $50.

Owners Aaron and Gina Plaunty, who both possess business management and administration experience, will use their business acumen to run their center effectively by placing a high premium on red carpet customer service and producing high quality examination reports. The Plaunty's have hired local physician Dr. Chad Hammett as their Doctors Express Medical Director. They chose Dr. Hammett, the 2009 Christus St. Mary's Dr. Congeniality award winner, because his track record proves he is capable of providing their patients with efficient, compassionate, and high quality care.

"Beaumont needs a fresh approach to medical service. We believe that Doctors Express is the solution because each franchise location represents an efficient and affordable alternative for minor care patients," says Aaron Plaunty who plans to open more centers in the next year. "Most patients want to get treated by experienced physicians without sitting all day in a waiting room. Doctors Express is an efficient, low cost alternative to health care for those patients."


Consider this:

- 46 million Americans (1/6 of the population) do not have medical insurance and many do not have a primary physician of choice.

- The American Medical Association reports it takes an average of 18 days to get an appointment with an internist and 30 days for an appointment with a specialist.

- A study by the Physicians Foundation found the number of primary care physicians is shrinking because nearly ½ of our nation's primary care docs, including pediatricians plan to stop practicing or reduce the number of patients they see over the next 3 years.

- The CDC attributes the increase in ER visits partly to the difficulty patients have getting an appointment with their primary physician.

The Doctors Express Difference

- All patients are handled in a single visit: for example, initial doctor's exam, lab work, x-rays, bone setting.

- Every patient is seen by experienced physicians who are trained to handle severity of illnesses from Level 1 – Level 4. Most urgent care centers don't handle Level 4 cases.

- Services are affordable and most insurance, including Medicare, is accepted.

The Doctors Express Beaumont urgent care center will open mid December 2009 at 3195 Dowlen Road Suite #105 in Beaumont near the intersection of Delaware St. and Dowlen Rd. Hours: Monday-Saturday 8 AM to 8 PM and Sunday 8 AM to 5 PM.

about Doctors Express
Doctors Express was founded in Baltimore in 2005 by an emergency room physician seeking a more efficient, affordable and personable system for urgent care patients. Doctors Express walk in medical centers are sweeping across the country as America's first nationally branded urgent care centers. The long term goal of Doctors Express is to have some 3,000 centers across the nation, with the Doctors Express logo as recognizable as McDonald's golden arches no matter where you travel in the U.S. "So far, Doctors Express franchise owners typically come from the business world, with a medical background not necessary, but certainly helpful, says Doctors Express franchise developer Doug Schadle. "People like the Plauntys with good management and business skills can efficiently run a medical center because they're used to delivering quality , timely service with customer satisfaction the number one goal. The medical industry definitely needs this." Much like an emergency room, Doctors Express is a full 4 stage urgent care facility with physicians on staff. We provide state- of- the- art treatment for acute illness, trauma and sports injuries (including minor surgical procedures) and have onsite digital x-ray service. Pre-employment physicals, drug screening and treatment of work related injuries are also available to local employers. Visit http://www.DoctorsExpress.com.

CONTACT:
Sue Yannello
919.459.8162
syannello @919marketing.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Business Couple Brings Convenient, Compassionate, and Affordable Medical Care to Atlanta

Atlanta, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/04/2009 -- At a time when Congress is debating how to radically overhaul the nation's health care system, two local MBAs will use their business backgrounds to create a new urgent care practice to dramatically improve the convenience and affordability for patients needing immediate medical care. Doctors Express, the first national urgent care franchise, will open next week in Buckhead at 1800 Howell Mill Rd. NW at the intersection of I-75 and Howell Mill Rd. and will redefine the patient experience by eliminating long waits associated with doctor's office or emergency room visits.

The franchise owners will use a business approach to deliver affordable, efficient, non-emergency treatment to almost anyone who walks in. The Doctors Express franchise will do for urgent care, what, say, Pearle Vision did for glasses. (See USA Today article) http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2009-07-12-doctors-express-franchise_N.htm

The Atlanta Doctors Express urgent care center will have much shorter wait times and cost significantly less than emergency rooms. Unlike most primary care physician offices, it will be open 7-days-a-week and accept walk-ins. Unlike retail clinics, patients will always be seen by board certified physicians.

It will be a one-stop-shop for medical care where experienced physicians will diagnose and treat everything from colds and flu to cuts, sprains, and broken bones. The center will turn around x-ray and lab tests within minutes because the equipment is all on site. In addition, most commonly needed medicine prescriptions will be filled before patients leave from their in-house pharmacy. With an average wait time of only 15 – 20 minutes, most patients will be in and out in less than an hour with their prescription in hand.

Owners Chris and Theone Rutledge, both with high level corporate management experience, will use their business acumen to run their center with customer service as their number one priority. The Rutledges have hired Georgia ER physician Dr. John Destito as Doctors Express Medical Director. "Dr. Destito is an experienced and compassionate physician and as medical director, he will ensure that all of our patients receive the highest quality medical care", adds Theone Rutledge. "We believe that our team of qualified physicians, nurses and x-ray technicians will deliver a healthcare experience that will surpass patient expectations."

"Atlanta can benefit from fresh approaches to medical service and we feel with our business backgrounds we can provide an innovative solution with Doctors Express," says Chris Rutledge who plans to open several more centers next year to serve the greater Atlanta metropolitan area. "Emergency rooms are overloaded, and patients with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries need a more convenient and affordable way to get treated by experienced physicians. We believe Doctors Express is an efficient, lower cost alternative to health care that will be highly valued in Atlanta communities."

Doctors Express was originally founded by an emergency room physician and two business executives in Towson, Maryland. After they developed a successful business model, they started to franchise with some twenty five territories sold to date. The long term goal is to have some 3,000 centers across the nation, with the Doctors Express logo as recognizable as McDonald's golden arches no matter where you travel in the U.S.

"So far, Doctors Express franchise owners typically come from corporate America, with a medical background not necessary, but certainly helpful," says Doctors Express franchise developer Doug Schadle. "People like the Rutledges with good management and business skills can efficiently run a medical center because they're used to delivering quality, timely service with customer satisfaction being the number one goal. The medical industry definitely needs this."

Consider this:

•46 million Americans (1/6 of the population) do not have medical insurance and many do not have a primary physician of choice.

•The American Medical Association reports it takes an average of 18 days to get an appointment with an internist and 30 days for an appointment with a specialist.

•A study by the Physicians Foundation found the number of primary care physicians is shrinking because nearly ½ of our nation's primary care docs, including pediatricians plan to stop practicing or reduce the number of patients they see over the next 3 years.

•The CDC attributes the increase in ER visits partly to the difficulty patients have getting an appointment with their primary physician.

The Doctors Express Difference:

•Most patients are handled in a single visit: initial doctor's exam, lab work, x-rays, treatment, medication dispensing.

•Every patient is seen by experienced physicians who are trained to see patients of all ages and are equipped to handle all issues except life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

•Services are affordable and most insurance, including Medicare, is accepted.

The Doctors Express Atlanta urgent care center will open December 2009 at 1800 Howell Mill Road, NW in Buckhead at the intersection of I-75 and Howell Mill Road. Hours Open: Monday-Friday 8 AM to 8 PM and Saturday-Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM.

About Doctors Express:
Doctors Express was founded in Baltimore in 2005 by an emergency room physician seeking a more efficient, affordable and personable system for urgent care patients. Doctors Express walk in medical centers are sweeping across the country as America's first nationally branded urgent care centers. Doctors Express provides state-of-the-art treatment for acute illness, trauma and sports injuries (including minor surgical procedures) and even has an onsite x-ray service and in-house pharmacy. Pre-employment physicals, drug screening and treatment of work related injuries are also available to local employers. Visit http://www.DoctorsExpress.com.

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New health care franchise is opening an Atlanta branch in December. It will be owned by local residents Chris and Theone Rutledge.

Holly Springs, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/12/2009 -- Doctors Express, a unique new urgent care treatment concept, plans to open its first Atlanta area facility in Buckhead by early December. To be located on the ground floor of the new Piedmont West Medical Building at the intersection of I-75 & Howell Mill Road, the facility is owned by local Atlanta residents and business partners Chris and Theone Rutledge.

According to co-owner Chris Rutledge, "The Doctors Express concept has proved successful as a convenient and compassionate alternative to hospital ERs. Our physicians and medical staff will treat patients with urgent, but non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries, utilizing the very latest in medical technology, including electronic medical records, digital X-rays and an on-site lab. We'll be able to treat most common illnesses and injuries, from colds and flu to fractures and sprains and everything in between. In addition, we'll be a reliable, accessible source for drug screenings, employment and sports physicals, occupational medicine, and travel immunizations" He noted, "Georgia has some of the longest ER wait times in the United States – a typical wait time is often over four hours. Emergency Rooms are overloaded, and this can be frustrating for patients, burdensome for ER staff, and costly for both patients and businesses. Our Doctors Express Urgent Care Center will be able to treat many of those patients often in less than 45 minutes, and at a fraction of the cost."

Theone, Chris's wife, added, "As parents of young children who have spent too many hours in emergency rooms, we personally understand the benefit of having a nearby, convenient source for urgent care. We want to offer the kind of quality care that people will trust and know they can depend on, seven days a week. Our plan is to staff the center with the kind of people we would want to treat our family: experienced and compassionate board-certified emergency and family practice physicians supported by a qualified, patient-oriented staff."

Both Chris and Theone come from successful business backgrounds: he holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and, as a partner at Accenture, was a management consultant for over 20 years. Theone holds an MBA in Marketing from Emory University's Goizueta Business School, and worked as a consultant in the healthcare industry and in business development for a technology start-up. The couple thoroughly vetted several business opportunities before selecting the Doctors Express urgent care franchise concept. According to Chris, "We believe that people requiring immediate medical treatment need another option for when their primary care doctor can't see them right away and the ER is backed up."

Their Doctors Express facility is nearing completion, and will begin treating patients in early December. The center will be open seven days a week with extended hours. No appointments will be necessary, and most insurance plans will be accepted.

About Doctors Express:
Doctors Express provides high-quality, urgent care right in your neighborhood! When you come to Doctors Express you'll be treated by licensed medical professionals who are on-site every day, including doctors, nurses, and x-ray technicians. This guarantees you receive the highest quality medical care. Our medicines treat aches and pains and our physicians treat people. We are constantly looking for better ways to do both.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm