EAST VILLAGE — Got a broken bone and no time to sit in a hospital waiting room?
A medical clinic specializing in treating non-life threatening conditions has announced its entry into the busy Division and Ashland intersection, at the base of East Village's 11-story, 99-unit apartment tower.
According to a sign, "Wicker Park Immediate Care," part of Chicago-based Aayu Healthcare, will be expanding to the southwest corner of Ashland Avenue and Division Street, near the Polish Triangle and CTA Blue Line Division "L" stop.
The medical clinic's future home — a 3,190 square-foot storefront between a newly relocated PNC Bank branch and Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea — is just a few blocks east of Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Hospital, 2233 W. Division St.
Urgent care clinics, part of a $14.5 billion dollar industry hoping to capitalize on "changing healthcare landscape" are popping up around the country at a fast pace, the New York Times reported.
The new clinic, set to open in the fall, will be Aayu Healthcare's second location. While there is no permanent parking for residents of the transit-oriented apartment building, the site offers 15 dedicated parking spots for its three first floor retail tenants.
According to county records, Aayu is owned by Dr. Abhijit Shinde, who practices out of Lakeview Immediate Care clinic, 1645 W. School St. in Lakeview. That clinic opened in 2012 at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and School Street.
Aayu is a Hindi name for boys that means "span of life."
Shinde was not immediately available for comment on the expansion but a worker who answered the phone early Wednesday confirmed that Shinde will be opening Wicker Park Immediate Care "sometime in the fall."
Lakeview Immediate Care offers treatment to patients of all ages for injury and illness, such as the flu, asthma attacks, broken bones, cuts requiring stitches and more, according to its website.
Aayu Healthcare's entry will follow the openings or construction of three other local immediate care clinics.
In February, Physicians Immediate Care moved into a 4,200-square-foot medical office at 1704 N. Milwaukee Ave, replacing the shuttered Scoop NYC boutique.
Also in February, MedSpring debuted at 1520 N. Damen Ave., replacing a former bank branch.
Currently, Northwestern Medicine is building a 15,000 square-foot center at 1776 N. Milwaukee Ave., adjacent to the Bloomingdale Trail. A spokeswoman for Northwestern Medicine previously said the new building would offer primary care, "certain diagnostics," along with some specialty health services.
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