BLAKESLEE -- People who live in one part of the Poconos no longer need to travel a distance to get healthcare.
Pocono Medical Center opened the doors to its new facility Wednesday in Blakeslee.
It's the newest -- and if you ask residents like Mark Edwards -- long-awaited healthcare facility to open up in the Poconos.
The Blakeslee Healthcare Center on Route 115 in Tobyhanna Township is now open.
"I think it's a tremendous asset for the town of Blakeslee, but even more so, it serves a need that has existed for a while," said Edwards.
The facility will mark Pocono Medical Center's fourth healthcare center in Monroe County. Work to open it started last year.
It will offer primary care, orthopedics, and more.
Dr. David Testa signed on as the primary care provider.
"Very excited to be here," said Dr. Testa. "It's been long planned and we are going to be providing multiple services for the community in the weeks and months to come."
For most people who live here, immediate healthcare is about 30 minutes away, so having this facility will be a big asset.
"It's a really nice place and they did a lot of good work here and I'm glad because there is nothing around here," said Mario Orellana, Pocono Lake.
Orellana came in for a flu shot and to meet his new physicians. He believes having this facility in this part of the Poconos will be a big help, not only to him but other residents, too.
"Sometimes with the weather, you can't always make it, so now I'm happy I have something real close."
Over the course of the next few months, more services will be added, including OB/GYN services, outpatient rehabilitation, and immediate care, giving residents a one-stop shop for all their health care needs.