A new medical facility has opened its doors in Picayune, providing urgent care to local residents every day of the week.

Pelican Urgent Care Administrator Bruce Kiger said the facility officially opened its doors Monday. Five minutes before the facility unlocked the door, its first patient was waiting outside.

Kiger said this is the second location of Pelican Urgent Care; the first is in Slidell, La., which is also the longest running urgent care business in that city.

At Pelican Urgent Care in Picayune, a variety of services are offered, from treatment of common ailments, to full body x-rays.

Kiger said the facility can treat the common cold, perform a physical, conduct drug screens, perform alcohol breath tests and provide a number of vaccines.

The facility, which was renovated to meet the business’ needs, has an open floor plan so nurses and doctors can easily communicate. It also has 10 rooms, one with an x-ray machine, and rooms that can help with a person’s physical agility.

“We can treat your cold and make you fit for a physical,” Kiger said.

Rooms are spacious, and some include frosted glass to allow sunlight to enter. Within each room stretchers capable of lifting patients were installed to provide emergency room quality care. If a patient is determined to need emergency care, Kiger said the facility has an agreement with AAA Ambulance Service to transport that patient to a hospital.

Through a staff of about 12 full time professionals, Kiger said the facility is ready to meet the needs of Picayune and Pearl River County residents.  The staff consists of five providers, which includes the three nurse practitioners Todd Cooper, Brittany Shaw and Brian Krieger. Two cardiologists are also available.

On the commercial side of care, not only can the facility provide physicals, drug screens and alcohol testing, but also help with work related injuries under OSHA regulations.

Cooper said that all providers are nationally certified and the facility will accept most types of insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare.

The business has hours that cater to a working public and as such is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

It is located at 1839 Cooper Rd., Suite 100. Staff can be reached by calling 769-242-1700.