Doctors Express Announces Its First Urgent Care Center in Metro Atlanta Area

Doctors Express, a unique new urgent care treatment concept, plans to open its first Atlanta area facility in Buckhead by early December.  To be located on the ground floor of the new Piedmont West Medical Building at the intersection of I-75 & Howell Mill Road, the facility is owned by local Atlanta residents and business partners Chris and Theone Rutledge.

According to co-owner Chris Rutledge, “The Doctors Express concept has proved successful as a convenient and compassionate alternative to hospital ERs.  Our physicians and medical staff will treat patients with urgent, but non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries, utilizing the very latest in medical technology, including electronic medical records, digital X-rays and an on-site lab. We’ll be able to treat most common illnesses and injuries, from colds and flu to fractures and sprains and everything in between.  In addition, we’ll be a reliable, accessible source for drug screenings, employment and sports physicals, occupational medicine, and travel immunizations”   He noted, “Georgia has some of  the longest ER wait times in the United States – a typical wait time is often over four hours.  Emergency Rooms are overloaded, and this can be frustrating for patients, burdensome for ER staff, and costly for both patients and businesses.  Our Doctors Express Urgent Care Center will be able to treat many of those patients often in less than 45 minutes, and at a fraction of the cost.”

Theone, Chris’s wife, added, “As parents of young children who have spent too many hours in emergency rooms, we personally understand the benefit of having a nearby, convenient source for urgent care.  We want to offer the kind of quality care that people will trust and know they can depend on, seven days a week.  Our plan is to staff the center with the kind of people we would want to treat our family:  experienced and compassionate board-certified emergency and family practice physicians supported by a qualified, patient-oriented staff.”

Both Chris and Theone come from successful business backgrounds:  he holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and, as a partner at Accenture, was a management consultant for over 20 years.   Theone holds an MBA in Marketing from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, and worked as a consultant in the healthcare industry and in business development for a technology start-up.  The couple thoroughly vetted several business opportunities before selecting the Doctors Express urgent care franchise concept.  According to Chris, “We believe that people requiring immediate medical treatment need another option for when their primary care doctor can’t see them right away and the ER is backed up.”

Their Doctors Express facility is nearing completion, and will begin treating patients in early December.  The center will be open seven days a week with extended hours.  No appointments will be necessary, and most insurance plans will be accepted.