Syracuse, NY — Upstate University Hospital is joining the adult urgent care business with a walk-in clinic across the street from its downtown emergency room.
The clinic, called Upstate Connect Care is expanding hours and now welcoming patients who need immediate attention, but not emergency services. It will also serve patients without a primary care doctor.
The hospital’s transition to urgent care is a pivot for Connect Care, which was originally intended to treat patients diverted from the hospital’s overcrowded emergency room. It will now serve patients with less severe needs who can skip the emergency room altogether and come directly to Connect Care.
Connect Care is located on the first floor of the Nappi Wellness Institute, 725 E. Adams St., across from the main hospital.
Starting today, Feb. 10, Connect Care will expand hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays. Previously, the clinic didn’t open until late afternoon. The clinic will remain closed on weekends.
It serves patients 16 or older.
“Evolving Connect Care into a true walk-in clinic allows us to serve more patients, more quickly, and more conveniently,” said Dr. Robert Corona, University Hospital’s chief executive officer. “This is part of our strategic priority to increase access points meeting patients where they are.”
The expanded hours will help manage patient overflow in the emergency department.
“By expanding Connect Care’s role as a walk-in clinic, we’re giving patients another place to turn when they need help right away, while also helping ease crowding in the ER,” Corona said in a statement.
The clinic will serve as an urgent care for symptoms such as minor burns, ear infections, coughs, colds or mild COVID symptoms, diarrhea, insect bites or minor cuts. Patients requiring a higher level of care should still go to the Upstate Emergency Department across the street, according to a news release.
Upstate’s walk-in pediatric after-hours urgent care recently moved to Nappi’s fourth floor. Serving children ages 21 and younger, it is open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and weekends from noon to 8 p.m.
date: 2026-02-10 22:16:00