Lompoc’s only urgent care center is closing its doors to walk-in patients, even on the weekends. Sansum Clinic in Lompoc says it will only serve Sansum-covered patients from now on.
It’s a health care center where many people in Lompoc went to get urgent care on weekdays after work and on the weekends. But now, Sansum is switching its facility to accept just scheduled same-day appointments. The reason given — trouble recruiting doctors.
"The delay times were between one hour and four to five hours," said Lennaya Smith, RN at Sansum Clinic.
The change to no longer offer urgent care to the public began on Tuesday. The clinic will not be open this Saturday.
Now, the wait time has been reduced to zero and many Sansum PCP patients are thankful as they are quickly shuffled in to see doctors.
"It was a pretty fast change, but it was a change that needed to be done now," Smith said. "We are very sorry for our patients and for those that have come here for our care for so long."
Sansum Clinic says the closure comes after a struggle to hire doctors to work in Lompoc and keep the ones they have.
"It’s disheartening for all of us," Smith said. "But it’s the ability to stay staffed appropriately based on our patient load."
The clinic is now open one extra hour on weekdays until 6 p.m. for the last 5:20 p.m. appointments.
"The zero delays is a good change but cutting services on the weekends, I’m not in favor for because it comes in handy," said Ray Lacasse, a Sansum patient and urgent care user.
"We just need help from the other healthcare facilities in our community," Smith told KSBY News.
The Lompoc Valley Medical Center says help is on the way. They say they were already seeing an increase in emergency room patients not actually coming in for an emergency and saw a need for their walk-in clinic on Third Street to be open on weekends.
It’s something they’ve been planning for a while now, but the Sansum closure has accelerated the process.
"In response, we will be opening up a clinic after hours and on weekends in the next week or two," said Dr. Naishadh Buch, Lompoc Valley Medical Center.
Lompoc physicians say they also expect to feel the increase in patients on the weekends starting this Saturday.
Sansum Clinic sees 25 to 30 total patients each Saturday. On average, 14 to 16 patients are Sansum patients who can access same-day appointments.
Doctors want to remind you that walk-in clinics are for minor but urgent problems, including symptoms such as a fever, cold, flu or earaches. For things like chest pain or difficulty breathing, go to the emergency room right away.
Lompoc-area clinic alternatives:
- Lompoc Community Health Centers
- Hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; walk-in immediate care for adults and children Tuesday through Friday 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Lompoc Valley Medical Centers: Physician’s Services
- Hours: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Saturdays and Sundays (soon to be open on weekends)
- Lompoc Valley Medical Center Emergency Room
- Hours: 24/7
- Dignity Health Walk-In and Family Care
- Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Sunday
- Central Coast Medical Group
- Hours: Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Urgent Care Hours: Monday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Lompoc Health Care Center
- Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Outside of Lompoc:
- Sansum Clinic Pesetas Urgent Care
- Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Buellton Medical Center
- Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Sunday
- Dignity Health Orcutt Walk-In Health Center
- Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Sunday
- Central Coast Med Plus Santa Maria
- Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Sunday
- Med Stop Urgent Care San Luis Obispo
- Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
