The new Select MD Urgent Care clinic, located at the corner of Thorold and South Pelham roads, can provide patients with treatment for everything from coughs and colds to sprains and strains.

Not only that, but the clinic, planned and operated by three Welland hospital emergency department doctors, is laid out with inviting designs and warm colours. The spacious waiting room has a flat-screen television and music is played throughout the clinic on a state-of-the-art stereo system.

"It's a very modern clinic, very visually pleasing," said Dr. Colin Zides, one of Select MD's docs. "We want people to know that we're here and we're open."

The clinic boasts nine examination rooms in more than 2,400 feet of floor space. But with the operation up and running, the physicians say the best is yet to come.

A second phase is being planned for Select MD that will consist of a family health and wellness centre next to the urgent care clinic.

The family practice will work in tandem with the clinic, with docs able to treat sick patients on one side and do check-ups and follow-ups on the other.

The practice will also serve as a grounds to help recruit and retain new family doctors, especially younger ones, said Zides.

"It's all in one place, which I think is a very unique system," he said. "There are very few clinics which combine both together."

Between Zides, Grant and Bak, the three docs have almost 50 years of primary and urgent care experience. Working together at Welland hospital's ER, the trio also worked together to develop Select MD.

"I think urgent care and medicine is a natural evolution from emergency care," said Zides.

"To put a project together of this size and complexity sure took a lot of thought and preparation time," added Bak.

Officially opened on July 21, patients have already been walking through the clinic's doors.

"The response from the public has been fabulous," said Zides.

The urgent care clinic is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday and selected holidays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 905-788-1500 or visit www.SelectMD.ca.