This month, Northside Medical Associates opens Accel Urgent Care in its original building on the campus. The new clinic comes on the heels of the construction of a two-story facility that includes primary and specialty care.

Northside Medical Home includes Birmingham Heart Clinic, Alacare, Alabama Oral and Facial Surgery, Eastern Surgical, Vision First and a pharmacy, all under one roof.

"Acel is the next phase of developing a comprehensive primary care delivery method," said Rock Helms, MD, the CEO of Northside Medical Associates. "It's going to be unique due to its blend of primary care, emergency level care and urgent care in one building with patients having access to advanced diagnostics, a full range of lab services, CT scan and ultrasound."

Patients will be able to see a primary care doctor more quickly - sometimes that same day - because of that connection between the urgent care services and Northside's primary care practice.

In a typical urgent care setting, the patient is generally asked to follow up with their primary care doctor. With Accel, if they are a Northside patient, the physician is just a phone call away. If they don't have a primary care doctor, the referral can be immediate.

"It improves the transition of care," Helms said.

Northside Medical Associates have recently doubled in size, partnering on clinics in underserved areas of Springville, Ashville and Trussville, and the announcing intentions to partner on a Wellness Center venture.