BATTLE GROUND — The waiting room of Vital Care is far from what you may imagine when thinking of a typical urgent care — it looks more like someone’s living room with comfortable chairs, colorful wall art and modern lighting.
The goal, according to Vital Care owner and physician assistant Todd Cichosz, is to make patients feel comfortable by creating a relaxing interior and a friendly environment.
“Medicine doesn’t have to be complicated,” Cichosz said. “Mixing the quality medicine with a great experience is all people want.”
Vital Care, Battle Ground’s newest independently owned primary and urgent care clinic, opened at 101 N.W. 12th Ave., Suite 107 in August. Cichosz first started his own “one-man” practice in January 2021. The new location offers expanded hours and services.
“If you go to the ER and are able to sit in the waiting room for six to eight hours, you’re our patients,” Cichosz said, referring to the urgent care services the clinic provides.
The new location has five different medical providers, five exam rooms, two infusion rooms and a procedure room. Providers process lab work on-site. It currently sees around 30 patients a day, though it has the capacity to see double that, according to Cichosz.
The clinic offers a whole range of care from stitches to routine visits to sports physicals. It even offers some mental health care.
“Nationwide, and probably worldwide, the access to mental health services is so limited and so stressed that a lot has fallen back on primary care,” Cichosz said. “So yes, we’ll do mental health. We do quite a bit of it.”
Among the other services Vital Care offers is on-site ultrasounds, X-rays and CT scans, not just for its patients but for other providers, as well. Providers can order imaging for their patient through Vital Care, which can potentially reduce a long wait time and help take the burden off of strained hospitals around the county, according to Cichosz.
Currently, Vital Care accepts self-funded insurance plans from a few dozen companies around Clark County. It does not accept third-party insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, though there are plans to expand accepted insurance down the line, according to Cichosz.
On the website, Vital Care outlines the cost of services for people who decide to pay out of pocket. Though the practice currently accepts limited insurance plans, Cichosz said he and his staff are willing to work with patients to help them figure out how to get the care they need, even if cost is a barrier.
Vital Care employs between 30 and 40 people, according to Cichosz. One of his goals is to create a supportive work environment to combat the burnout he has seen across the health care industry.
“I feel like I take all of the responsibility … but I don’t make all the decisions. I truly lean on them and want them to feel empowered and valued,” Cichosz said. “Vital Care is not mine, it’s ours.”
The unofficial motto at Vital Care is “take care of the patient, take care of each other,” Cichosz said.
Vital Care is open 7 a.m. to midnight 365 days a year. For a full list of services, out-of-pocket prices, accepted insurance and appointment booking visit vitalcarewa.com or call 360-723-0528.
