The Northwell-GoHealth Urgent Care chain is hoping to set up shop in Mineola as part of its recent expansion.
Pending a decision from the Nassau County Planning Commission, Mineola’s Village Board last Wednesday tabled the company’s application to open urgent care facility at 12 E. Jericho Turnpike.
If approved, the Mineola facility would be one of 50 to 100 the company aims to open by the end of 2017 in a partnership with Manhasset-based health-care chain Northwell Health, GoHealth New York President Sarah Arora said Wednesday.
“All physicians are highly skilled and caring providers,” Arora told village trustees. “As long as it’s not a life threatening situation, people can walk in, be treated and receive great care.”
There are 21 GoHealth Urgent Care Centers open, including locations in Roslyn, Rockville Centre, Massapequa and Bellmore. The Roslyn location at 1033 Northern Blvd. opened in November.
The Mineola location would be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
GoHealth Urgent Care gives access to the continuum of health care by developing and operating small-box urgent care facilities that company officials said are seamlessly integrated into market-leading health systems.
The company’s partnership with Northwell Health allows patients to be transferred to the health system’s hospitals across Long Island if they need additional care, according to a 2014 Northwell press release.
Mineola trustees said they were concerned about the lack of a traffic light for cars exiting the property’s parking lot to go east on Jericho Turnpike.
“This is a very dangerous exit as there is constant traffic on Jericho Turnpike at most hours of the day,” Trustee Dennis Walsh said. “There needs to be a traffic light there.”
Mayor Scott Strauss also said it is essential to have lighting in the parking lot and maintain the property.
Bohler Engineering Assistant Project Manager Kristin DeLuca, an engineer on the GoHealth project, said there is efficient lighting on the premises.
Village of Flower Hill trustees expressed similar traffic concerns about the Northern Boulevard location, prohibiting left turns out of the facility onto the thoroughfare in their 2015 approval.
The Village Board spoke about a proposed local law amending Section 550-16 of the Municipal Code of the Incorporated Village of Mineola. Trustees also tabled additional regulations for vape shops and hookah bars on Wednesday after a public hearing.
“We are not against hookah bars, but are looking to define a place to land them so that they are not on residential streets,” trustees said.
