A new urgent care center in Sylva is proving a welcome addition to the community.

Before MedWest Health System opened the urgent care center in early August, Jackson County residents seeking immediate medical care but that doesn’t rise to the level of an emergency room visit were forced to head over the Balsams to Waynesville or over the Cowee range to Franklin.

“This would be a lot easier, if we needed medical help,” said Joe Buchanan of Sylva, who has driven to Franklin before to seek medical care at the Macon County town’s urgent care center, located about 30 minutes from Sylva along U.S. 441. Buchanan said he’d had a bad cold at the time and couldn’t get a doctor’s appointment but didn’t want to go to the emergency room.

Jane Cabe, a visitor to the area from Florida, welcomed news of an urgent care center. She and her husband — he has roots in Macon County — were staying in a Jackson County campground catering to recreation-vehicle users.

“If you need something, you need it quickly,” Cabe said. “You don’t have time to drive to another town.”

MedWest’s urgent care is located at 176 Wal-Mart Plaza, and provides walk-in examinations six days a week to patients with non-emergency illnesses or injuries. The new center has eight patient exam rooms, X-ray and full lab services in 3,770 square feet.

The new center’s staff includes two physicians, two physician assistants or nurse practitioners, two medical assistants, two registered nurses and four radiology and lab technicians. The hours of operation for the center are 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.