United Memorial Medical Center plans to open an Urgent Care Center this spring in Batavia, the hospital announced Thursday.

The new facility will be set up inside UMMC’s Jerome Center on Bank Street.

“This continues United Memorial’s efforts to increase access to necessary health care services to residents of Genesee County,” Mark Schoell, president and chief executive officer, said in a news release.

UMMC spokesperson Colleen Flynn said Thursday the decision was made to add Urgent Care services in the city because of the success of a similar center the hospital opened July 1, 2010, in Le Roy.

Many of the people using the Le Roy site are from Batavia, according to an analysis done by the hospital. Patient visits to the Le Roy location have increased in the past 18 months from an estimated 3,500 per year to 6,000 annually, Flynn said.

Urgent Care provides access to medical assistance for  patients who have non-life-threatening health problems and who want to avoid a long wait in an emergency room. Health insurance co-payments at urgent care centers are usually less expensive than for emergency room visits.

UMMC’s Urgent Care is available 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week to treat children, adults and senior citizens. Hours vary around major holidays.

UMMC’s Urgent Care Center in Batavia, like its facility on Tountas Avenue, Le Roy, will be equipped to treat ailments and conditions such as sprains and fractures, cuts and lacerations, animal and insect bites and stings, cold and influenza symptoms, ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, asthma, sore throats and strep throat, mononucleosis and influenza vaccines.

Urgent Care at the Jerome Center will be supported by United Memorial’s medical imaging services. The Jerome Center, 16 Bank St., offers handicap accessibility, convenient parking, a gift shop and refreshment kiosk.

An opening date for the new facility inside the Jerome Center has not been announced