WARE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - For Ware residents, a trip to the doctor has meant a trip out of town since the closing of the Mary Lane Outpatient Center in 2023. Baystate Health says that’s about to change.

The new site of a “convenient care” facility will focus on a wide-range of non-emergency or non-life threatening illnesses.

It’s expected to open in the next nine to 12 months. It will feature four exam rooms, on-site imaging, and a laboratory. Besides urgent care, it will also help connect community members with primary care providers and specialists.

A goal for the new convenient care facility at 144 West Street is to meet people where they are, Baystate says.

“With Mary Lane here, the ER was busy and now that it’s closed, everybody has to go to Palmer and the overload there is just too much,” said Ware resident Barbara Mohan. “You’re waiting four to 10-plus hours just to be sitting in the hallway for some care.”

Baystate said in a statement that they value what smaller services like this can do, saying in part “strengthening access points across the region, we help patients stay connected to care.”

It’s unclear at this time how this could impact the other health services of the town.

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