If you have any concern for your heart—such as palpitations, chest pain, pressure, tightness, shortness of breath not related to a cough, cold, or asthma, or unexplained dizziness—please know that our clinic does not have ECG services. In these situations, I recommend you call your doctor or seek immediate evaluation at an ER or an urgent care with those resources. I also do not manage acute psychiatric emergencies, but I can provide medication refills for most non-controlled prescriptions.

Unlike most urgent cares, Paladin is exclusively appointment-based. This allows us to limit the number of patients seen each day and ensures that every visit is calm, private, unrushed, and focused on you. Appointments must be booked online in advance. When you arrive, you’ll be seen right away — the clinic is your space to be greeted, treated, and on your way without waiting in a crowded lobby. To protect privacy and maintain the quality of care, the clinic is open only to the scheduled patient (and a parent/guardian if needed) during each visit, and the very next appointment if they arrive early and are waiting.

The goal of this clinic is to stop the practice of sacrificing quality for quantity and get back to practicing quality first. We do not take walk ins. A scheduled appointment means the clinic is yours while you are evaluated, you are seen at your time, with no one else waiting /sitting near you that could make you ill/expose you to other infections. You are greeted at the door, brought straight back, and given as much time as needed to answer any questions. If you have an appointment, there should be no wait almost ever.

I’m the sole provider at Paladin, and I started this clinic to bring healthcare back to what it should be—personal and patient-centered. For questions related to your visit, you may contact me through the patient portal for up to 72 hours after your appointment, and I’ll contact you as soon as possible. I make every effort to respond promptly, but please note that post-visit calls are not intended for emergencies or new medical issues. After 72 hours, I ask that patients schedule a follow-up visit so I can continue providing the safest, most accurate care. To make this accessible, Paladin offers a $50 cash follow-up option (available within one week of your original visit for one visit, does not include any add on fees). Please understand that new or unrelated medical issues from your previous visit cannot be addressed under the discounted follow-up rate.

At Paladin, every visit is with me — Lauren Buckingham, PA-C, a licensed Physician Assistant. I practice under a collaborative agreement with a supervising physician who is available on call for consultation whenever needed. I bring over 10 years of clinical experience, including time in emergency medicine, primary care, and urgent care, to provide care that is knowledgeable, safe, and thorough. My goal is simple: to give you the best care I can. If your needs ever go beyond what can be managed here, I’ll make sure you’re connected quickly to the right place for the help you need.

I started Paladin not to maximize profit, but to provide care that is personal, transparent, and centered on your well-being. If during your visit I determine that you should be evaluated in the Emergency Department, it is because I am genuinely concerned for your health. In these situations, I may reduce your clinic fee as a courtesy, since your safety is my priority. Please remember: if you are experiencing severe symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, fainting, sudden weakness, or signs of stroke, call 911 or go directly to the nearest ER. Our clinic does not have ECG or advanced emergency diagnostics, and in emergent conditions, time can save lives.

Yes. I've been in this situation myself and know it can be challenging. I can often help bridge patients until they establish with a primary care provider by offering up to 30 days of chronic medication refills or management at a time. If your PCP appointment is scheduled more than 30 days out, a follow-up visit at Paladin may be needed. Please note: I never manage chronic medications for more than 60 days total, as Paladin is not a primary care clinic. Chronic medication management is handled on a case-by-case basis, since some complex conditions may be best managed directly by a primary care or specialty physician. If you’re unsure whether I can assist, you’re welcome to call the clinic briefly before scheduling so we can discuss your situation.

We offer home visits in neighborhoods within about 3 miles or ~10 minutes of our clinic, including Irving Park, North Center, Ravenswood, Lakeview (north), Uptown, and parts of Avondale, Logan Square, and Portage Park. Travel times in Chicago can vary with traffic, so this is meant as a general guide. If you live outside this area, we may still be able to accommodate your visit depending on distance and scheduling. In those cases, a case by case travel fee is added to the standard home visit rate.

Most services provided during a home visit are the same as those offered in-clinic. Before leaving, we will call to confirm your concerns so we know what to bring. We arrive prepared with the equipment and supplies needed to evaluate you at your home, business, or other preferred location. ⚠️ If you are experiencing **chest pain, difficulty breathing, fainting, stroke symptoms, or an acute psychiatric crisis, please do not book an appointment with Paladin. Instead, call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency department.

All ongoing or long-term follow-up for urgent care concerns should be with your primary care provider. At Paladin, we offer: • 72 hours of phone access to the provider who saw you, for questions related to your visit. After this period, further questions require a follow-up appointment (either in-clinic or by home visit). • In-clinic follow-up visits within 7 days of your original visit for just $30. This courtesy option is available if you need additional evaluation, advice, or minor rechecks. • Home visit follow-ups, which are billed at the standard home visit rate, since a provider is making a full return trip.

How do I book a home visit? Home visits are scheduled through our online booking link. Simply select the “Home Visit” option. Only available times will appear, so you don’t need to worry about booking outside of our operating hours. Currently, home visits are offered between: • 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM • 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Home visits are $175. Please note that the copay match does not apply to home visits. The home visit fee includes: • Travel to your location • Evaluation and examination • Prescription writing (if needed) • Medical advice and treatment plan Some services — such as lab tests, procedures, or supplies — are considered add-ons and are billed separately. These are always reviewed with you before being provided, so you’ll know your total cost up front. Many patients are able to estimate their full visit cost in advance by reviewing our transparent Services Page.

Your visit cost always includes a thorough physical exam, a review of your medical history, prescription management if needed, and clear medical advice. Because our goal is to provide high-quality care at the lowest possible cost, we post a fully transparent fee schedule right here on our website. Unlike many urgent cares, you’ll know exactly what to expect—before your visit even begins. Please see the Pricing/Service section for full pricing details.

The visit fee covers your exam, medical history review, and medical advice. In-house labs are all included in the visit fee. Send-out labs (such as Quest Diagnostics) and imaging (X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, etc.) are billed separately by the lab or imaging center, just like at any other healthcare facility.

Yes. While Paladin is a direct-pay clinic and we do not run insurance, your insurance can still help lower your costs significantly. Our standard visit cost is $120, already below typical out-of-pocket costs at many other urgent cares. We match urgent care copays. If your insurance card does not list an urgent care copay, we honor your specialist copay instead (whether in-network or out-of-network), as long as it’s documented on your card or an official statement from your insurer. We only match as low as $75.00. Because of our copay match and transparent pricing, many patients actually pay less here than they would at an insurance-based urgent care, even after using their insurance. Every patient also receives a superbill upon request, which you can submit to your insurance provider. Depending on your plan, this may allow you to receive additional reimbursement or have the visit count toward your deductible.

We do charge modest add-on fees for certain services (see the Services page), but these are always discussed with you during your visit. Even with those additions, many patients find their total out-of-pocket cost at Paladin is lower than what they would pay through insurance-based urgent cares, especially for those with high deductibles. You will never face hidden fees here—you’ll know the full cost before you leave. And because many insurance plans involve deductibles or unexpected out-of-network charges, frequently patients end up paying more elsewhere even after using insurance.

In house labs are small add on fees and not included in the visit cost. see the Services page for this information. Send out labs are billed by the laboratory performing them to you or your insurance. All X-ray orders at Paladin can be taken to any local outpatient imaging center. This is often faster than in-house X-rays at other urgent cares, where you may wait 1–2 hours to be evaluated and longer for X-ray to be performed and then read. At Paladin, your in-clinic visit usually takes about 15 minutes—quick, efficient, and never rushed if you have questions. You go have the X-ray done that day. Go home, rest, and wait for a call. After your X-ray, your provider will review the radiology report and call you within about an hour to go over the results and discuss any next steps for your care.

Our regular clinic hours run most of the day, but from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM the clinic is normally closed so we can rest and prepare for the next day. If you strongly wish to be seen after 8:00 PM, I can return to the clinic or stay late to accommodate you. Because of the extra time and staffing required, these visits are billed at $225 (plus any add-ons) and do not qualify for copay matching. This option is designed for urgent needs that can’t wait until the next day—for example, if you’re traveling early the next morning or need prompt attention before an important event. I’m happy to provide this service when it helps you get care when you need it most, but the higher fee reflects the additional time and resources required to keep open the clinic after an already long 12-hour day.