Photo by Michele Newbanks William Bedilion and his medical assistant, Mel Nichols, work at the front desk after an open house Saturday at the new urgent care center in Little Hocking.

LITTLE HOCKING — A newly opened facility is giving local residents an option with their health care.

The Little Hocking Urgent and Primary Care opened April 5 at the corner of Federal and Newbury roads, but an open house was held Saturday to introduce the staff to the public.

Belpre Township Trustee Asa Boring was on hand for the open house, handing out cookies and coffee.

“We need this to be a success,” he explained. “If you’ve got the flu, you don’t have to go to the hospital and sit in a waiting room.”

The facility was opened by William Bedilion, a Little Hocking native who came home to care for his parents and their farm.

Bedilion is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. He was a registered nurse from 1996 to 2015, when he graduated as a nurse practitioner. He noted he’s a member of the Ohio Board of Nursing, Ohio Board of Medicine and the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.

As a traveling nurse, Bedilion has worked all over the country, from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Hilton Head, S.C.

“I’ve been up and down the coasts of Florida and California,” he said.

He’s worked in the emergency room, intensive care unit and the operating room.

“And now I have my own practice,” he said.

During Saturday’s event, people filed in, asking health questions and requesting sign-up sheets for primary care.

There is a large waiting room, but most visitors utilized their outside seating.

Linda Ward, 64, lives about a mile away. She said she thought it was just urgent care and didn’t realize it was a primary care center as well.

“I wanted to find out what was inside,” she said.

Bedilion said the center is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends. He takes all insurances, but the cash pay is $75.

“And there are no hidden charges,” he said.

He noted his office is not affiliated with WVU Medicine or Memorial Health Systems.

“We give personalized service to help the patients get better and exceed their expectations,” said Bedilion. “There is no automated voice when the phone rings.”

“It’s been busier than expected,” he said. “It’s all been word of mouth. Someone comes in, they tell their family, and their family tells their neighbors.”

Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.

If you go

∫ What: Little Hocking Urgent and Primary Care.

∫ Where: 3938 Newbury Road, Little Hocking.

∫ Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends.

∫ Phone: 740-989-3097.

Source: William Bedilion.