UnityPoint Health - Meriter - West Washington Clinic
Information
Number of patients waiting reflects the current number of patients waiting to be seen. This number changes frequently and is not exact.
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 7:00 AM - 5:15 PM
- Tuesday: 7:00 AM - 5:15 PM
- Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 5:15 PM
- Thursday: 7:00 AM - 5:15 PM
- Friday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Services At This Location
Primary Care
At UnityPoint Health – Meriter, the health and safety of our patients, communities and team members is at the center of everything we do. Whether you are feeling sick or need routine care like a wellness visit or vaccine, our clinics are ready to provide the best care for you and your family.
Nutrition Services
Good nutrition is one of the basic building blocks of living a healthy life. Too often, we know what we "should" eat, but have a hard time following through on a daily basis. At Meriter, we believe that you can have a healthy diet and eat delicious foods. We also know that only having strict goals is not the best way to lose weight or improve health. Nutrition plans should be well balanced, incorporate safe, healthy guidelines and be specialized according to the wants and needs of the individual.
Our registered dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy for a wide variety of diseases and conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease treatment and prevention, weight management and digestive health.
Medical nutrition therapy focuses on diet and lifestyle changes that can prevent or reduce your health risks. Working together as a team, you and your dietitian will develop a plan tailored to your nutritional and medical needs. Your dietitian will act as your guide down the path to nutritional wellness and improved health and quality of life.
During a meeting with a Registered Dietitian, you can expect to:
- Receive guidance in adopting a healthy eating plan to manage a specific health issue
- Develop a plan and set attainable goals that fit into your lifestyle
- Learn strategies to manage weight, as well as, learn the basics of a healthy diet to promote health and prevent disease
- Address and remove barriers to make it easier to change behaviors
- For many patients, we recommend the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid: Mediterranean Diet Pyramid
Nutrition Counseling Therapy Referral
To refer a patient to Medical Nutrition Therapy, please enter the order into MeriterCare or complete and submit the attached form.
Medical Nutrition Therapy Referral
Radiology & X-Ray
We are committed to putting patient and staffs' safety first. Radiologists and x-ray technologists are trained and are dedicated to using the minimum amount of radiation necessary to obtain the needed results.
Patients requiring imaging procedures need a referral and order from their physician. Routine studies are scheduled in advance. Emergency procedures are performed as requested. Appointments for outpatient work are necessary and can be made by calling (608) 417-6288.
Our Radiology department is located within UnityPoint Health – Meriter hospital. We also offer medical imaging and x-ray services at the following clinics:
Additional Patient Resources
The HEALTH Program offers these services at locations throughout our community, adhering to the street medicine model that has remained the core of the program. HEALTH provides care to patients where they are, including but not limited to shelters, clinics, and in our community.
HEALTH's focus is on medical care and will work with our community's homeless services agencies to ensure patients are getting the full array of services available to them.
- The Community Resource Specialists and Social Work team works closely with the clinic providers, who send referrals based on psychosocial needs of their patients. This team provides resource linkage, complex care coordination, and connection to community supports as needed based on the patient.
- They operate out of the primary care clinics, the therapies departments, NICU-follow-up and work closely with the Behavioral Health Consultant team.
- This team also helps facilitate Advanced Care Planning and helping patients completed Health Care Power of Attorney documentation.
Our Providers
Ellen Miller, CD, MS, RDN
Diabetes Education
Krista Dopf, PA-C
Rheumatology
Kenneth L Ligaray, MD
Endocrinology
Naomi Wedel, BC-ADM, CD, CDCES, MS, RD
Dietetics
Christine D Sharkey, MD
Rheumatology
Max Kemnitzer, APNP
Family Medicine
Sean L Miran, DO
Family Medicine
Deborah P Wubben, MD
Endocrinology
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Vaccinations
Vaccines are vital for keeping you and your community safe. That's why they start at birth and continue into your golden years. Learn more about why vaccines are important, who approves vaccines and find recommended vaccination schedules for adults and children.Learn More
What Type of Appointment Do I Need?
Primary Care encompasses the comprehensive treatment of a number of diseases in symptoms and specialties including pediatrics, internal medicine and family medicine. Rather than specializing in one particular area of medicine, the physician is trained to meet all the needs of patients as one point of contact. Same-day appointments may be available. Call your clinic or log in to MyUnityPoint to schedule with your provider or a member of their care team.
Examples of symptoms and conditions treated by a primary care provider can include:
- Minor medical problems and injuries
- Physicals/Sports Physicals
- Vaccinations
- Medicine Checks
- Long Term Care
- Medication Refill
- Ongoing Symptoms (ex: Continued Back Pain)
- Care or Treatment Planning
- Disease Management
- Managing Existing Conditions (Migraines, Depression, Anxiety, Arthritis, etc.)
- Substance Abuse
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes and obesity
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Skin problems
Urgent Care and Express treat minor medical problems and injuries that are not life-threatening, but need the attention of a health care provider. These are not an alternative to the emergency room, but offer the ability to get walk-in care without an appointment for all patient ages. Urgent Care is available after hours, weekends and holidays. Our Urgent Care Clinics can provide medical treatment for minor illness and injuries such as:
- Allergies
- Burns
- Colds
- Coughs
- Cuts (Stitches)
- Earaches or Ear Infections
- Fevers
- Minor Medical Problems and Injuries
- Minor Eye Care
- Flu
- Fractures (X-Ray On-Site at Most Locations)
- Infections
- Sore Throats
- Sprains, Including Sprained Ankles (X-Ray On-Site at Most Locations)
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
- Yeast Infections
- Certain Rapid Tests
Please note: Flu shots, physicals and/or sports physicals are not offered at every walk-in care location.
*If you are experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath, please go to the Emergency Department or call 911 immediately. For less serious medical issues, such as physicals, medication refills or to leave a message for your primary care doctor, you can access your My UnityPoint patient portal 24/7!
Connect with a UnityPoint Health provider online using MyUnityPoint to access virtual urgent care or SmartExam. Virtual care doctors can diagnose, recommend treatment and prescribe medication when necessary for commonly treated conditions. Available every day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for individuals 2 years and older located in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota.
Virtual care should be used for minor, common ailments and illnesses. Some examples, and the qualifying age to receive virtual care or SmartExam for that condition, include:
| Condition | Virtual Urgent Care | SmartExam |
|---|---|---|
| Acne | 2+ | 2+ |
| Burn | 2+ | 2+ |
| Cold/Flu | 2+ | 2+ |
| Cold Sores | 13+ | 18+ |
| Constipation | 2+ | 18+ |
| Cough/Upper Respiratory Infection | 2+ | 18+ |
| Diarrhea | 2+ | 18+ |
| Fever | 2+ | 18+ |
| Head Lice | 2+ | 2+ |
| Heartburn | 2+ | 18+ |
| Headache/Migraine | 18+ | 18+ |
| Joint Pan | 2+ | 18+ |
| Rash | 2+ | 18+ |
| Red Eye | 2+ | 2+ |
| Sinuses | 2+ | 2+ |
| Sore Throat | 2+ | 18+ |
| Urinary Tract Infection | 13+ (female only) | 18+ |
| Vaginal Infection (yeast/bacterial vaginosis) | 18+ | 18+ |
| Vomiting | 2+ | 18+ |
Emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for severe or life-threatening conditions. Conditions that require emergency care include excessive bleeding, broken bones, chest pain or trouble breathing. Emergency services include diagnostic testing and access to specialists.
Examples of symptoms and conditions treated by emergency departments can include:
- Symptoms of a heart attack, including severe chest pain, sweating and shortness of breath.
- Profuse bleeding or blood loss that continues even after direct pressure has been placed on the wound.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Sudden dizziness, weakness, loss of coordination, balance or vision problems, which are signs of stroke.
- High fever and vomiting that continues nonstop for several hours.
- Signs of meningitis for adults: severe headaches, neck/joint pain and stiffness, vomiting, high temperature, sensitivity to light or babies and small children: high-pitched whimpering/crying, lethargy, fussiness, restlessness, high fever, vomiting, cold extremities, refusing food, pale or blotchy skin.
- Seizures lasting longer than five minutes.
- Injuries occurring from an accident or fall - intense back or neck pain, obvious compound fractures and/or dislocations of bones, deep cuts and severe burns.