health care

Mercy Urgent Care Boone Now Open

December 1, 2025 by Keely Knopp

Mercy Urgent Care is pleased to announce the opening of its newest location, Mercy Urgent Care Boone, at 321 Watauga Village Drive, Suite D. Located in the Watauga Village Shopping Center off Blowing Rock Road, Mercy Urgent Care Boone will be open seven days per week: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Headquartered in Asheville, Mercy Urgent Care is Western North Carolina’s only independent, nonprofit urgent care, offering high-quality, affordable and convenient medical care for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Currently, its network includes three locations in Asheville and one each in Burnsville, Columbus, Waynesville and Weaverville. The Boone clinic is the organization’s first expansion into Watauga County.

“With 125 years of history in Western North Carolina, Mercy’s mission has always centered around providing compassionate, affordable care,” said Rachel Sossoman, president and CEO of Mercy Urgent Care. “We’re thrilled to soon join the Boone community and do our part to eliminate barriers to care so people can get the help they need, when they need it.”

As an independent provider, Mercy Urgent Care accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield and all other major insurance carriers; offers a self-pay option for those without insurance, with tiered “fee for service” pricing; and has a Compassionate Care financial assistance program for qualifying patients. Since 2021, Mercy has also offered comprehensive healthcare packages through its MercyMe membership program, where patients have access to a full menu of services — including annual wellness checks, yearly flu shots and urgent care services like x-rays, wound care and lab testing — starting at $29 per month for individuals and $59 per month for families of four.

In addition to services for individuals and families, Mercy Urgent Care Boone offers workplace-related health care services through its Mercy Occupational Medicine division. Employers in or near Watauga 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 was founded in Asheville in 1985 as a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy, an international institute of Roman Catholic women founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland. Committed to sacredness of life, human dignity, mercy, justice, service and excellence, Mercy Urgent Care believes everyone should have access to convenient, affordable and high-quality healthcare.

‘Tis the Season for Gratitude

November 22, 2025 by Keely Knopp

As we enter this season of gratitude, we’re reminded of the many milestones Mercy Urgent Care has celebrated this past year — the moments of resilience, compassion and community support that have shaped who we are and remind us why we do what we do.

With countless reasons to say “thank you” to our Western North Carolina community this year, we have much to be grateful for at Mercy Urgent Care. Here are just a few of the moments that have warmed our hearts in 2025:

Humanitarian Award: In March, the Urgent Care Association honored Mercy Urgent Care with its 2025 Humanitarian Award, given in recognition of an individual or organization whose significant medical volunteer work has had a positive impact on a national or international cause or event. In honoring Mercy Urgent Care with this award, UCA commends the nonprofit’s service in providing relief to the Western North Carolina community in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Best of the Mountains: This year, Mercy Urgent Care was recognized as the top urgent care provider in both Mountain Xpress’s “Best of WNC” and The Mountaineer’s “Best of Haywood County” reader polls. We are incredibly grateful to our patients who continue to choose Mercy for their urgent care needs and vote for us to receive these honors.
125 Years and Counting: Mercy celebrated a major milestone in 2025 — 125 years in Western North Carolina — and you helped us commemorate the occasion with our Called to Heal Gala and Fundraiser. Held October 30 at the Country Club of Asheville, this event raised over $100,000 for our Compassionate Care program, which covers or reduces the cost of urgent care services for those in need.
New Location: Mercy Urgent Care will soon welcome patients at its newest location in Boone. We’re excited to show off this brand-new facility, located in the Watauga Village Shopping Center. Mercy Urgent Care Boone will open daily at 8 a.m., closing at 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
A Tight-Knit Team: Last, but certainly not least, we are so incredibly thankful for our Mercy team and family. Every day, our staff shows up with compassion and kindness, each manifesting the core values — Sacredness of Life, Human Dignity, Mercy, Justice, Service, and Excellence — that are the basis of the Sisters of Mercy organization. Without them, we would not be where we are today.

As the sun sets on this milestone year, we humbly ask that you consider Mercy Urgent Care in your year-end giving and help us continue to serve, heal and uplift our Western North Carolina community. As a nonprofit organization, Mercy Urgent Care is committed to providing affordable healthcare to all in the region, with a portion of proceeds from every patient visit going back to our Compassionate Care program. By making a donation — or choosing Mercy Urgent Care for your healthcare needs — you help provide urgent care services to another member of the community.

donate to the catherine mcauley mercy foundation

Norovirus Season: What to know

February 3, 2025 by Keely Knopp

Ah, the classic signs of winter: freezing temperatures, icy roads and empty tissue boxes.

It’s no secret that winter is a time when illnesses are prominent. Coughs, colds and viruses are seemingly running rampant, thanks to drier air and an increase in time spent indoors.

Unfortunately, this year there is a rising number of norovirus outbreaks, otherwise known as a “stomach bug,” according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In December, the CDC reported 91 cases of norovirus, more than double the highest number recorded between 2021 and 2024.

Here’s what you need to know about norovirus and how to avoid getting sick this season.

What is norovirus?

Norovirus is an extremely contagious illness that commonly causes vomiting and diarrhea. Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach or intestines. Norovirus spreads very easily and quickly in different ways. You can get norovirus by:

Having direct contact with someone with norovirus, like caring for them, sharing food or eating utensils with them, or eating food handled by them.
Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus.
Touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then putting your unwashed fingers in your mouth.

You can still spread norovirus for 2 weeks or more after you feel better.

What are the symptoms of norovirus?

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach cramping
Urinating less or having dark-colored pee
Dry mouth
Feeling weak
Dizziness

Treatment

Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days. There is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness. Antibiotic drugs will not help treat norovirus infections because they fight bacteria, not viruses. Here’s what you can do to treat norovirus:

Drink plenty of fluids, such as water, clear broth, or electrolyte solutions.
Avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks, as they can worsen dehydration.
Get plenty of rest to allow your body to recover.
Eat bland, easily digestible foods such as rice, toast, and bananas.
Avoid fatty, spicy, or acidic foods that may irritate your stomach.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
Disinfect surfaces that may have been contaminated.
Avoid contact with others as much as possible.

Symptoms of norovirus are likely to appear 12-48 hours after exposure. Most people with norovirus illness recover in one to three days, however it can be contagious for up to two weeks. The CDC recommends staying home for two days after you feel the symptoms subside. Though hand sanitizer does not kill norovirus, wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Disinfectants, including Lysol products, should kill the virus when used to wipe down surfaces. It is possible to get norovirus multiple times as there are multiple strands of noroviruses. Infection with one type of norovirus may not protect you against other types.

Norovirus vs. Influenza

Norovirus and influenza (flu) are both highly contagious viruses that can cause illness, but they have distinct characteristics. Key differences include: norovirus affects the gastrointestinal system, while the flu affects the respiratory system; norovirus causes more vomiting and diarrhea, while the flu causes more coughing and sore throat; norovirus has a shorter incubation period and duration than the flu; and the flu is more likely to cause complications, especially in vulnerable populations.

	Norovirus	Influenza
Symptoms	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headache	Fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, fatigue
Transmission	Spread through contaminated food, water, or surfaces	Spread through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing
Onset	Symptoms typically appear within 12-48 hours after exposure	Symptoms usually develop 1-4 days after exposure
Duration	Most people recover within 1-3 days	Illness can last for 5-7 days or longer
Complications	Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance	Pneumonia, bacterial infections, respiratory failure
Prevention	Wash hands frequently, avoid touching contaminated surfaces, and cook food thoroughly	Get an annual flu vaccine, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home when sick

It’s important to note that these are general guidelines, and individual symptoms and severity may vary. If you experience any concerning symptoms — severe dehydration, fever, abdominal pain, or bloody stools — seek medical attention promptly.

Summer safety tips

June 21, 2024 by Keely Knopp

As summer begins and the temperature turns up in Western North Carolina, Mercy Urgent Care urges you to keep your cool, whether you’re hard at work in the sunshine or floating down the French Broad River. Here are some tips to beat the heat and symptoms to look out for if you think you might have a heat-related illness.

Beat the heat

Keeping cool when temperatures reach record highs isn’t just about comfort. Dangerously high temperatures can result in heat-related illnesses ranging from heat exhaustion to heat stroke. The following tips can help you keep cool all summer long.

Hydrate. Drink plenty of water, ideally two to three liters a day, even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid caffeine, sugary drinks and alcohol—these drinks speed up the heart rate, elevate blood pressure and cause the body to dehydrate quicker.
Adjust your diet. Eat smaller meals and choose foods that have a high-water content, such as watermelon, bell peppers, fruits, cucumbers, and greens. Spicy foods can also help keep you cool as they encourage your body to sweat.
Change your schedule. Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day, usually 11a to 2p. Plan outdoor exercise and work for cooler times such as the early morning or late evening.
Dress for the weather. Wear light, breathable clothing in fabrics like cotton or linen, and avoid synthetic fabrics. Long-sleeve shirts, long pants, and hats will help protect you from the sun’s rays, but still remember to apply your sunscreen!

Know the symptoms

When the body begins to overheat, it sends out signals to let you know. Early symptoms of heat-related illnesses include fatigue, heavy sweating, headache, dizziness, nausea and a high pulse rate. Patients may begin to feel faint or weak, develop muscle cramps and notice clamminess of the skin.

As heat-related illnesses progresses, an individual may begin to experience life-threatening symptoms, such as a high body temperature, confusion, convulsions or fainting. Due to severe dehydration, patients may also have red, hot and dry skin.

Heat-Related Illness	Symptoms and Signs
Heat stroke	• Confusion • Slurred speech • Unconsciousness • Seizures •Heavy sweating, or hot, dry skin • Very high body temperature • Rapid heart rate
Heat exhaustion	• Fatigue • Irritability • Thirst • Nausea or vomiting • Dizziness or lightheadedness • Heavy sweating •Elevated body temperature or fast heart rate
Heat rash	• Clusters of red bumps on skin, which often appear on neck, upper chest, and skin folds
Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)	• Muscle pain • Dark urine or or reduced urine output • Weakness

Treating heat illness

If you or someone you know is experiencing the early symptoms of a heat-related illness, immediately stop all activity, move to a cooler place to rest and sip water or an electrolyte replenishing sports drink. For individuals experiencing heat exhaustion, loosen any clothing items, place cool, wet cloths on the body or take a cool bath. Visit one of Mercy’s eight locations if you are in need hydration via intravenous fluids.

If the individual begins to vomit, has a history of heart problems or experiences worsening or prolonged symptoms, seek medical help right away.

For severe symptoms that may indicate heat stroke — such as fainting, high fever, confusion, dry skin and a fast, strong pulse — call 911 right away. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, and can be fatal without medical intervention. While waiting for medical professionals, move the individual to a cooler place, remove excess clothing and help lower the body temperature by whatever means available, concentrating ice packs or cool, wet cloths around the neck, armpits and groin. If the person is not alert or is vomiting, do not give him or her anything to drink.

Urgent Care Awareness Month

May 1, 2024 by Keely Knopp

When unexpected injuries or health issues arise, many people’s first reaction is to head to an emergency room. But when those illnesses and injuries aren’t life-threatening, these trips often end up costing patients more in both time and money.

And that’s where urgent care centers like Mercy come in. Knowing the best option for care can be essential in beginning the healing process, and urgent care centers fill a critical gap in the health care industry.

Urgent Care bridges the gap between primary care and emergency care. Treating minor burns, scrapes and cuts is a vital, yet singular piece of the urgent care puzzle. Urgent care also treats conditions such as allergic reactions, ear infections and strep throat; provides x-ray imaging and lab services such as testing for COVID-19, STIs, pregnancy and blood glucose; provides support and treatment for mental health concerns; and offers preventative services in the way of physicals and vaccinations.

Facilities like Mercy help to alleviate the burden on emergency rooms, enabling area hospitals to make better use of their resources and provide faster ER care for true emergencies. “When people know where to go based on their circumstances, the system works best,” said Dr. Robert Kimball, president of the UCA Board of Directors.

Statistics indicate that Urgent Care centers prevent approximately 24.5 million emergency room visits annually, significantly alleviating the strain on emergency departments while saving patients and the healthcare system valuable time and resources. This data underscores the importance of Urgent Care centers in managing non-emergent cases effectively and underscores their essential status within the healthcare system.

To make these important services even more accessible to the community, Mercy Urgent Care offers MercyMe healthcare memberships. These memberships provide individuals and families access to a full menu of health services — from annual wellness checks and yearly flu shots to access to urgent care services like x-rays, wound care and lab testing — without an appointment or lengthy check-in procedures.

With eight locations across WNC and a MercyMe card, you’ll never be without affordable, quality healthcare resources. Learn more about MercyMe by clicking here, spread awareness this month about the differences between urgent care and emergency departments, and keep us in mind for any of life’s unexpected, non-life-threatening events. Stay well!

MercyMe Team Care Spotlight: Homeward Bound

February 14, 2024 by Keely Knopp

Mercy Urgent Care is proud to offer comprehensive healthcare packages for individuals and families through its MercyMe membership program — and employers throughout Western North Carolina have taken note. Through an affordable monthly membership, MercyMe Team Care allows employers to offer workers access to high quality healthcare services at any of Mercy’s eight convenient locations across Buncombe, Brevard, Haywood, Polk and Yancey counties.

MercyMe is a great way to offer employees the health care services they need — from primary care to treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses — all for a fraction of the cost of traditional insurance options.

Recently, local nonprofit Homeward Bound took advantage of this opportunity to offer coverage to its employees, and Mercy couldn’t be happier to provide compassionate care to those individuals who make this community a better and brighter place for all.

About Homeward Bound

Founded in 1988, Homeward Bound is dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Buncombe County through permanent housing and support, and in 2022 alone, the nonprofit provided homes for 38 veterans and 69 chronically unhoused people in the community. That same year, the organization prevented 162 individuals from becoming homeless, including 30 veterans.

In addition to providing homes for those in need, Homeward Bound also operates the AHOPE Day Center, which provides a place for hundreds of Buncombe County’s homeless neighbors to pick up mail, store their possessions, take care of hygiene needs and more. AHOPE acts as the front door to the nonprofit’s housing services, where people who are homeless can connect to the services and resources they need to find a safe and stable place to live.

Homeward Bound helps people like James, a veteran and successful plumber, who lost his job and home after sustaining a severe injury to his toe at work, which developed into a bone and blood infection that resulted in the amputation of his leg just below the knee. This medical crisis cost James the life he once knew. But with help from Homeward Bound, he has since become housed and is on his way to getting back on track with employment, ongoing health care and support.

In September 2023, Homeward Bound opened Compass Point Village, a permanent supportive housing project made specifically for low-income residents with disabilities, many of whom are chronically homeless. The 85-unit apartment complex, at the site of the former Days Inn on Tunnel Road in East Asheville, provides on-site behavioral health services, case management and job training.

MercyMe team care memberships

As a nonprofit itself, Mercy Urgent Care is proud to offer MercyMe Team Care memberships to organizations like Homeward Bound, so that those who make the biggest difference in our community can access the care and support they need to continue their impactful, life-changing work. Homeward Bound is one of many nonprofits in the local area that have opted in for MercyMe Team Care since the program’s inception in 2022 — but memberships are available to all employers, from small businesses to corporations, with a minimum enrollment of five employees.

Protection for individual employees costs $59 per month per employee or $89 per month for family coverage of up to four people. MercyMe Team Care memberships include unlimited in-office or virtual urgent care visits, a yearly health physical, direct primary care services, flu shots, BMI, A1C and blood pressure assessments, vision screenings and discounts on durable medical equipment and lab work. Find a full list of MercyMe membership services here.

Plans for individuals and families are also available outside of the workplace, with Essential Care plans starting at $29 per month and Premium Care plans starting at $79 per month. Find iInformation on individual and family care plans here.

To learn more about MercyMe Team Care, contact Director of Growth and Marketing Jon Medin at 828.252.3443 or jmedin@mercyurgentcare.org.