By Ben McCarthy
Advent Health is preparing to open a new primary care location at 103rd & State Line Road, as it shutters a longtime free service utilized by multiple generations of Kansas Citians.
Advent Health is planning to expand its local footprint in the area with a new Primary Care clinic at the site of a former CVS off 103rd and State Line Road. Director of Communications Nicole Fowler says that AdventHealth is planning an early February grand opening celebration for the new AdventHealth Medical Group Primary Care, the first of its kind on the Missouri side of State Line (in addition to primary care locations Kansas, they also operated three Centra Care urgent care locations on the Kansas side, with walk-in availability). Fowler, a graduate of Martin City Elementary, says the clinic will mirror its other primary care offices within the region and aim to offer comparable services and hours.
AdventHealth NurseLine, a 24/7 hotline that has been providing Missouri and Kansas residents with free health and medical advice from registered nurses for almost 40 years, will take its final calls on January 5th.
The service will go dark the following day, as AdventHealth transitions the NurseLine staff to become a Virtual Nurse Triage team, directly supporting AdventHealth Medical Group clinics.
Fowler tells the Telegraph that the closure of the free service fits a national trend.
“No one is being terminated,” Fowler said. “There has been a rise of self care apps, along with expanded 24/7 virtual assistance through insurance providers.”
The free service, which began as “ASK-A-NURSE” when AdventHealth was still known as Shawnee Mission Medical Center (later Shawnee Mission Health), was rebranded In February 2018, becoming Shawnee Mission Health NurseLine, just ahead of the growing hospital’s switch to AdventHealth Shawnee Mission in January 2019.
“As we grow to meet the needs of communities, this change redeploys nurses to support clinic calls from 7am to 7pm and will provide a better experience for patients visiting or calling any of our primary care clinics, including our upcoming AdventHealth Medical Group Primary Care at State Line location,” Fowler said.
Beginning January 6th, the NurseLine number will operate only as a way to register for AdventHealth wellness classes over the phone. Fowler says AdventHealth is working to promote comparable services in the area that residents can turn to in lieu of NurseLine’s absence.
A registered nurse with NurseLine (who asked not to be named) told the Telegraph she was recommending residents contact HCA Midwest Health, which operates Consult-A-Nurse (844-706-8773). That similar service offers local residents everything from basic health information to helping make determinations if emergency medical care is needed, and is also a 24/7 hotline.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City Director of Corporate Communications, Marlene Bentley, says they will continue to offer their 24/7 Nurse Advice Line (816-234-3188) for parents with questions pertaining to child injuries and illness. Children’s Mercy Kansas City announced Dr. Alejandro Quiroga as its new President and CEO in December, effective January 2nd. Dr. Quiroga joins Children’s Mercy from Corewell Health, the largest health care system in Michigan, where he served as President of Corewell Health West.