AFC Urgent Care Opens Its Doors
By Robin Vinci | Editor at October 6, 2023 | 2:00 pm | Print
New Britain’s newest health care facility opened its doors on Tuesday as American Family Care (AFC) Urgent Center at 135 East Main St. The site of the former Taco Bell.
“We are like a doctor’s office that does a broad scope of practice,” said Tom Kelly who is the president and owner along with Ron Krippner. “We have the ability to handle most orthopedic issues, fractures and lacerations. People come with dislocations. What’s great about this place is you never know who will come through that door.”
People are expected to be in and out within an hour and costs are about 1/10th of an emergency room. All insurances are taken. Those without insurance can make payments.
“I worked in New Britain for 15 years for Stanley Works. I know the City and I always loved the City and culture here. When we were looking around we looked at this place, but Taco Bell was here,” said Kelly. “You can get pizza or cheeseburger on every corner, but you can’t get good healthcare.”
Other offices owned by the pair are in West Hartford and two in Danbury. Another is planned in Danbury and two more will come in 2017.
There are about 25 employees at this location and most are from New Britain.
“We have Polish speaking staff and Spanish speaking staff,” said Kelly.
Dr. Iftikhar Ali, also speaks about 5 other languages including Indi, Arabic and Hindu.
A Grand Opening will take place Thursday, Oct. 6 from 4-9 p.m.
“This is a great service that really doesn’t exist in the community today. The community is under-served. There are great physicians in town,” said Kelley. “Twenty five percent of the population will be over 65 in 10 years. You have Baby Boomers and Echo Boomers coming. We get a lot of 70-80 year old folks whose primary care doctor retired. We pride ourselves in connecting our patients to the right doctor.”
There is no need for an appointment. The firm interviewed 150 people and hired 8.
“We are looking for a special breed of person. We center this operation on compassion and caring,” said Kelly. “We try to design and build a beautiful medical facility form color selection to art work. Everything is designed for relaxing and comfort.”
There are five exam rooms, one procedure room and one large fully accessible x-ray room.
“We take an x-ray, mend them and set them up with an appointment with an orthopedic who may see them on the same day,” said Dr. Ali. “They don’t have to wait for hours.”
Endocrinologist and cardiologists can also be called to set up an appointment if needed.
A triage area will first take all your vital information before you get to a room. Each room has a television and all the equipment needed. One room is set up for children with bright yellow colors and animals.
“The doctor familiarizes with everything before coming in to assess,” said Kelly. “This is the last place people want to be, so we make it the best place they can be for health care.”
Pre-employment tests and drug testing are also done at AFC as is physicals, immigration physicals and vaccinations, including yellow fever. Anyone 18 and under can get various free vaccinations under state rules.
“It is very streamlined. In the old days your doctor did everything. The scope of a primary doctor has shrunk. We have taken it to the next level,” said Kelly. “This is not a restaurant with a menu that is too big. These are very specific components of our care. We think we are bringing something really positive to New Britain. I think the City of New Britain will be delighted to have us here.”
AFC Urgent Care is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
