Indianapolis Nurse Practitioner Fills Pediatric Urgent Care Gap, Expanding Access to Families
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A local nurse practitioner addressed a critical healthcare need in Indianapolis by founding Children Express Care Clinic, offering specialized urgent and primary care for children and families, especially in underserved areas.
As COVID-19 surged globally, nurse practitioner TaQuita Taylor recognized a significant gap in healthcare access for families in Indianapolis. While chain pharmacies offered convenient services like vaccinations and COVID-19 testing, options for urgent pediatric care – especially for children under 5 and infants under 18 months – were limited.
“I have always had a passion to work wiht kids,” Taylor stated. She understood that medical experiences could be frightening for young patients, and a pediatric-focused approach could make those interactions more cozy – from the way healthcare professionals communicate to small details like grape-flavored tongue depressors.
in December 2020, Taylor and her husband, Patrick, launched Children Express care Clinic at 5435 Emerson Way on the northeast side of Indianapolis. Patrick Taylor now manages the administrative side of the business, allowing TaQuita to focus on patient care. The clinic quickly gained traction,fueled by positive word-of-mouth referrals to drive patient volume.
A Family’s Story of Care and Prevention
Darneé Colbert, a mother of four from Avon, first discovered Children Express Care Clinic in 2022 through a friend’s recommendation when her oldest child developed pink eye. Colbert recalled that her son, Torrance (TJ), then 10, received a Transformer toy from TaQuita Taylor during that first visit. She quickly found Taylor to be personable, thorough, and committed to patient education.
Approximately three years ago, Taylor identified that TJ’s blood sugar levels were elevated, meeting the criteria for prediabetes. She recommended lifestyle adjustments, including increased physical activity (TJ joined the football team) and dietary changes to reduce sugar and carbohydrate intake. With his mother’s support,TJ successfully brought his blood sugar back into a healthy range – a particularly significant outcome given the family’s history of diabetes. “[Taylor] actually helped us turn it around and he’s no longer prediabetic,” Colbert said.
Inspired by the positive experience,Colbert began utilizing Taylor as her own primary care provider while pregnant with her second child. she now brings her 3-year-old daughter, Priya, and 1-year-old twins, Xiya and Ariyah, to the clinic for both well-child visits and sick care. Despite a commute of 45 minutes to an hour with traffic, Colbert estimates she has brought her children to see Taylor dozens of times. “I recommend this place to anybody,” she affirmed.
Addressing Access and the Importance of Education
Taylor’s dedication to medicine and patient education stems from her upbringing, witnessing family members – including her mother – provide care to others. While they lacked formal medical training, she observed their innate desire to help those in need.
“My great-grandmother was a caretaker,” Taylor recalled,remembering visits to her home in mississippi,where numerous elderly individuals sought her care.
Today,Children Express Care Clinic serves as a vital healthcare link for many families with limited access,often only seeking medical attention when illness strikes. This underscores the importance of patient education, Taylor emphasized. She encourages families to establish a primary care home, prioritize well-child visits, and focus on preventive care to avoid escalating health issues.
However, potential federal cuts to programs like Medicaid pose a threat to access. Taylor noted that approximately 80% of the clinic’s patients rely on Medicaid, with an additional 5% uninsured. “I do see that there’s probably a lot more families that are going to be uninsured,” she said, expressing concern for the impact on vulnerable populations.
The clinic offers a self-pay option of $149 per visit for those without insurance and strives to maintain low overhead costs to ensure continued accessibility. “We do our best,” taylor stated.
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Michael schroeder is a freelance contributor to mirror Indy and can be reached at [email protected].
