Oak Street Health, open since July 26 at Roosevelt Mall, is welcoming adults on Medicare to visit the facility during a series of open houses.
There will also be open houses every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and every Friday from noon to 3 p.m. through August.
The center also hosts regular activities — bingo, yoga, seated aerobics, board games, zumba, gourmet healthy cooking, coloring, jazz dance, movies with popcorn, adult beginner ballet, birthday dance parties — in its community room.
Tai chi is coming in September.
“We’re a very much patient-focused organization,” said Jacqueline Pireaux, outreach director at Oak Street Health.
Oak Street Health has about 50 locations, mostly in the Midwest. The company has been in Philadelphia since last September.
Each office has an average of 500 patients, with a max of 750.
The newest location is near the Bustleton Avenue entrance to Roosevelt Mall, next to the former Pizza and Pasta. Hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The space was most recently occupied by a medical rehab center. Oldtimers will recall a Penn Fruit supermarket on site. The front entrance is across from a soon-to-be-built LA Fitness.
The Oak Street Health model includes patients spending more time with doctors. Dr. Melissa Rosato is on staff, and she’ll spend 40 minutes with patients on their first visit and at least 20 minutes with them on future visits.
“We don’t double-book appointments,” Pireaux said. “Your time is your time.”
The center features 14 exam rooms, along with two behavioral health rooms and a urine and blood draw room.
Oak Street Health offers free rides to and from medical appointments. Often, patients can make next-day or same-day appointments, and walk-ins can be accommodated.
Staff will talk to patients about Medicare benefits and insurance, and insurance agents have space in the office.
“We’re able to review the benefits they currently have, and a lot of times we can assist them in getting a lot of benefits they’re missing out on,” said patient relations manager Mikell Govan, who spends 20 or so minutes with each patient.
An official grand opening will be planned later.
The center’s address is 2311 Cottman Ave., Suite 71. A 24-hour patient support line is available. Call 215-444-7505.
For more information, visit oakstreethealth.com. ••
