Urgent Care & Family Medicine · Santa Barbara
Walk in.See a doctor.Always a doctor.
A doctor is here every hour we are open. We find out what's wrong and start treating it the same day — usually without a referral or a trip to the ER. Lab and X-ray are in the same building. Caring for Santa Barbara since 1983.
Since 1983
Physician-led
A doctor is on site every hour we are open, and a doctor sees you.
Book or walk in
Hold your place online, or come straight in — last walk-in is an hour before closing.
Lab & X-ray on site
Comprehensive lab testing available; rapid testing and digital X-ray done on site.
Rooted here
Caring for Santa Barbara families for more than 40 years. Managed by local doctors, part of the community.
43
Years caring for Santa Barbara
4
Physicians, all Santa Barbara locals
2
Lab and X-ray, both in the building
7
Days a week, holidays included
Services
From a sore throat to a broken bone
Urgent care, primary care, occupational medicine, and on-site lab and imaging.
Urgent Care
You need attention today — that's what we're here for. A physician sees you, with lab and X-ray down the hall. No appointment and no referral needed.
Advanced Procedures
Procedures most urgent cares send to the ER — handled in-office by experienced physicians, saving you the wait and the bill.
Family & Internal Medicine
Ongoing primary care for all ages — annual exams, blood-pressure management, and women's health, from doctors who know your history.
On-Site Lab
Strep, urine and other rapid tests are done during your visit. Anything else, we draw the blood here and send it to any major lab — one stop instead of two.
Digital X-Ray
On-site digital imaging for immediate answers on fractures and injuries.
Occupational Medicine
Keeping Santa Barbara's workforce healthy — physicals, screenings, and workers' comp care for local employers. Most injuries allow modified duty, so an employee keeps working safely while they heal rather than waiting at home to be cleared.
Screening Exams & Preventive Care
Sports and school physicals, DMV and insurance exams, FAA BasicMed and Coast Guard exams, and the preventive screenings that catch a problem while it is still small.
What we treat
Can you help with this?
Here are the most common problems that we treat — if yours is not listed, call and ask.
Colds, flu & infections
- Sore throat & strep
- Cough, cold & flu
- Sinus infections
- Bronchitis
- COVID-19 testing
- Ear infections
- Fever
- Urinary tract infections
Injuries & broken bones
- Sprains & strains
- Broken bones & fractures
- Cuts needing stitches
- Burns
- Back & joint pain
- Sports injuries
- Splinting
- Work injuries
Stomach & digestive
- Stomach pain
- Nausea & vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Food poisoning
- Dehydration
- Constipation
Skin & rashes
- Rashes & hives
- Insect bites & stings
- Poison oak
- Skin infections & abscesses
- Allergic reactions
- Splinter & foreign body removal
Eyes & ears
- Pink eye
- Eye injuries
- Something in the eye
- Earache
- Swimmer's ear
- Ear wax removal
Children & everyday care
- Children's illnesses
- School & sports physicals
- Blood pressure checks
- Women's health
- Annual physicals
Not an exhaustive list, and not a diagnosis. For chest pain, difficulty breathing, stroke symptoms or severe bleeding, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room instead.
Since 1983
A practice built by a doctor, for his neighbors
“An alternative to the long wait and high cost of an emergency room.”
During his residency at Cottage Hospital, Dr. William Meller kept seeing the same thing: people coming to the ER and waiting hours for problems that could better be seen in a doctor's office. They just couldn't get appointments that fit into their schedule. So in 1983 he opened the first MedCenter — one of the earliest urgent care centers in the country.
Four decades later that has not changed. Generations of Santa Barbara families have come to the MedCenter — for stitches after a fall, for a chest X-ray on a Sunday, for an annual physical or employment exam.
The practice is still physician-owned and still physician-staffed. The name on the door has not changed, and neither has the promise behind it.
Our physicians
There is always a doctor here
Our two founders have been treating patients in Santa Barbara for more than 40 years. All of our doctors live in the community.
Hours
Checking hours…- Monday
- 8 AM – 8 PM
- Tuesday
- 8 AM – 8 PM
- Wednesday
- 8 AM – 6 PM
- Thursday
- 8 AM – 8 PM
- Friday
- 8 AM – 8 PM
- Saturday
- 10 AM – 6 PM
- Sunday
- 10 AM – 6 PM
Last walk-in is one hour before closing.
Open every day, including holidays. Holiday hours: 10 AM – 6 PM.
Location
2954 State St
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Walk in during opening hours, or call and we will find you a time today. No referral needed either way.
Coverage
Insurance we accept
Most major plans are welcome. If you do not see yours, call — we will tell you straight away.
We are the designated urgent care provider for:
- CenCal Health
- Santa Barbara Select IPA
- CenCal Health
- Santa Barbara Select IPA
- Medicare — Original & most Advantage plans
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield
- Aetna
- Cigna
- United Healthcare PPO
Feeling unwell? Come in.
Walk in during opening hours, or call and we will find you a time today. No referral needed either way.