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CLEARWATER — An area franchisee of Doctors Express plans to open its fourth Gulf Coast location Thursday in Clearwater, at 1500 N. McMullen Booth Road.
In an email to the Business Review, franchise developer Rick Kimsey says the new location reflects his plans to grow the urgent care franchise. Kimsey has franchise development rights for Doctors Express in 16 counties in west and central Florida, including the Gulf Coast.
Doctors Express currently has locations in St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Sarasota, and eight total in Florida, according to its website. Kimsey told the Business Review in October that he would like to open five or six Doctors Express locations in Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties in 2012, but getting financing remains a challenge.
“We continue to believe the urgent care sector is the best delivery platform to provide solutions to non-life threatening illnesses and injuries. We can more quickly deliver high-quality medical solutions at a lower cost,” Kimsey says in an email to the Business Review. “Our biggest obstacle is the availability of capital. Changing from a 'health care practice' to a 'retail service delivery platform' is out-of-the-box thinking for most investors. We need to educate investors about this unique sector in the health care spectrum.”
Doctors Express, a nationwide franchise, was founded in 2005 by an emergency room physician seeking a better way to treat urgent care patients. The company was acquired by Phoenix-based Immediate Clinic LLC and Mission Viejo, Calif.-based The Ensign Group Inc. in March for an undisclosed amount. In a March press release, the company said it has awarded 143 franchises in 24 states.
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