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. We do not have in house x-ray but can manage injuries with splinting in clinic and outpatient x-ray orders. Please call with any questions.

How do appointments work? Paladin Urgent Care is exclusively appointment-based. This allows us to keep visits calm, private, and unrushed, and ensures you are seen on time without waiting. Appointments should be booked online in advance. If you arrive without an appointment, please ring the bell — if we are available, we may be able to add you, or schedule you for the next available time. At times, we may be out on a home visit, so even if the lights are on, we may not always be immediately available at the door. When you arrive for your scheduled visit, the clinic is your space — you will be seen promptly and without a crowded waiting room. To maintain privacy and quality of care, the clinic is open only to the scheduled patient (and a parent/guardian if needed) during each visit.

We do not have wait times hardly ever. We are appointment based. Patients are typically seen upon walking in.

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 for up to 72 hours after your appointment by phone on days the clinic is open; and I’ll contact you as soon as possible. I make every effort to respond promptly. 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 $40 cash follow-up option before 5 PM (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.

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.

We draw labs in clinic, or provide lab orders to go to a nearby QUEST collection site for blood draws. All X-ray orders at Paladin can be taken to any local outpatient imaging center. 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. Ultrasound, MRI, and CT orders are handled on a case-by-case basis, please call.