‘Your house is the waiting room’: First, only pediatric-specific mobile urgent care opens in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - It’s no secret that Nevada needs more physicians.
The workforce shortage is especially critical for pediatricians with the state ranking 49 out of 52 for the number of pediatricians per child ratio in 2023, according to the American Board of Pediatrics.
Las Vegas pediatrician, Dr. Robert Wilkinson, is trying to help with the shortage by offering a new pediatric mobile urgent care. His business, Incredicare, opened six months ago.
“We have a severe shortage in pediatricians, anyone who has tried to call their pediatrician for a same day appointment realizes their pediatricians would love to take care of you, it is not the problem, they just don’t have enough space, they don’t have enough rooms, they don’t have enough providers,” Dr. Wilkinson said.
According to the University of Nevada, Reno’s School of Medicine, the state needs 189 additional pediatricians to meet the national average. Currently, there are 267 licensed pediatricians serving more than half a million people under the age of 18.
“Allows us to travel from Henderson to North Las Vegas to Blue Diamond area to Summerlin, and really take care of kids in all demographics in all areas,” he said.
The clinic is open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Wait times are between 2-3 hours, but a doctor could be available within one hour.
“We bring the clinic to you, so you come out of your house, you are in a clean, safe environment,” he added.
Some of the serviced offered include:
- Rapdid swab testing
- Fever
- Cough
- Congestion
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Belly Pain
- Dehydration
- Acute injuries
- Laceration repair
- Sprains & Strains
The mobile clinic cannot do X-rays or treat injuries like broken bones.
Appointments cost $275, but they do accept most health insurance companies so patients are only responsible for co-pays.
Last month, Governor Lombardo signed an executive order to create a commission that will focus on attracting and retaining more health care workers in Nevada.
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