UPDATE: The Columbus hours are now 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.
At 8 a.m. June 18, doors officially opened at Mercy Urgent Care Foothills in Columbus, the seventh facility in the Asheville-based not-for-profit’s health care network. Less than a quarter mile from Interstate 26 Exit 67, the Polk County center, at 140 W. Mills St., will be open seven days per week: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Joining centers in Asheville, Weaverville, Brevard and Burnsville in providing excellent care for Western North Carolina, Mercy Urgent Care Foothills provides nearby, convenient care to residents and visitors in Polk, Rutherford and southern Henderson counties, along with those in the Landrum/upstate South Carolina area.
“Polk County has a documented shortage of primary care providers and very limited access to any retail walk-in acute care services,” said Mercy Urgent Care CEO Tim Johnston. “There is very 
limited, if any, weekend and after-hours health care besides hospital emergency rooms in the entire tri-city area of Columbus, Tryon and Landrum. We look forward to serving the people in this area with greater access to health care.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house took place on Monday, June 17, prior to the facility’s official opening — and was well-attended by local residents, officials, media and health care professionals.
Mercy Urgent Care is dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable and convenient medical care for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Patients in the Carolina Foothills region will now have access to walk-in care at a fraction of the cost of an emergency room visit.
What’s the difference between urgent care and an emergency room? Urgent Care Centers treat non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses and play an important role in helping to alleviate the burden on hospital emergency rooms. Learn more about urgent care vs. ER here.
At Mercy Urgent Care Foothills, patients can be treated for cuts, strains and sprains, broken bones, colds, ear infections, cough and sore throat, sinus pain, flu, fever, mild asthma, mild allergic reactions, digestive issues, urinary tract infections, skin irritations, animal bites and minor burns.
Supporting the residents and visitors of Western North Carolina is a top priority, and to do this effectively, Mercy Urgent Care, as an independent provider, accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield and all other major insurance carriers; offers a self-pay option for those without insurance, with simple, tiered “fee for service” pricing; and has a Compassionate Care financial assistance program for qualifying patients.
In addition to services for individuals and families, Mercy Urgent Care Foothills will offer workplace-related health care services through its Mercy Occupational Medicine division. Employers in or near Polk County can take advantage of a wide array of services, from workplace screening and testing to workplace incident management. Mercy Occupational Medicine offers board-certified physicians and licensed, highly trained personnel to meet the needs of businesses and their employees.
Mercy Urgent Care Foothills
140 W. Mills St., Columbus, N.C.
828-802-1011
HOURS
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
