The pediatric urgent care center at Rady Children’s North Coastal urgent care building will be receiving $500,000 courtesy of the Junior Seau Foundation, a report said August 5. The center is located at 3605 Vista Way, and the donation will support the establishment of a full urgent care center.
The center will be named the Junior Seau Foundation Urgent Care Center in the WebMD Pavilion. This announcement comes just a few days prior to Seau being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame posthumously. Seau was from the North County area.
“Junior Seau was dedicated to serving the children of his hometown San Diego,” said Mike Kinkelaar, executive committee director of the foundation. “We are privileged to continue that legacy by advancing Rady Children’s mission to restore, sustain and enhance the health and developmental potential of children.”
The statement also said that they hope the funds will be able to “create a lasting legacy” in order to memorialize Seau, who committed suicide in May 2012. Seau played as a linebacker for the Chargers, Dolphins and Patriots over a twenty year career. He and seven others will be inducted to the Hall of Fame on August 8.
The donation is especially important due to the importance of urgent care centers. The facilities are slowly trying to relieve some of the overcrowding in emergency rooms by attempting to provide emergency room care at a fraction of the cost and time. To do this, they employ some of the best doctors, and their centers are constantly evolving. Funding such as this donation helps these centers provide not only more care, but better care. It is also applauded that it focuses on urgent care for children.
Each week, about 3 million patients visit urgent care, and there are only about 20,000 doctors practicing at urgent care facilities. A majority of centers (85%) also stay open seven days a week. What do you think of the donation? Give us your thoughts, comments, and experiences!