Macon-Bibb County’s medical clinic landscape is shaped by two major health systems, a federally qualified health center, and a network of independent practices. Atrium Health Navicent, the region’s largest hospital system and Georgia’s second-largest hospital, operates primary care clinics throughout Macon and recently expanded with a new family medicine clinic in Perry. Piedmont Healthcare runs primary care offices under its Piedmont Physicians brand. For uninsured and underserved populations, First Choice Primary Care stands as Macon’s federally qualified health center, established in 2007 as a non-profit with multiple locations across downtown and South Macon. The clinic operates on a sliding fee scale and serves both insured and uninsured patients. Independent walk-in clinics like Med Plus Immediate Care on Thomaston Road and Avamed Care on Tom Hill Senior Boulevard provide same-day access without appointments, filling a critical gap in Macon’s healthcare infrastructure. Macon is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) for primary care in parts of Bibb County, contributing to longer wait times at established practices and fueling demand for walk-in and urgent care clinics. Southern Primary Care maintains offices in both Macon and Warner Robins with extended hours and walk-in availability to serve working families.
Top-Rated Medical Clinics in Macon, Georgia
First Choice Primary Care
770 Walnut St, Macon, GA 31201
firstchoiceprimarycare.org
Established in 2007 as a non-profit community health center, First Choice Primary Care provides quality healthcare to insured, uninsured, and underserved individuals across Macon and Warner Robins. Led by Dr. Timothy Graves, the practice operates multiple locations including 770 Walnut Street, 400 Poplar Street (downtown), and 171 Emery Highway. As a federally qualified health center, First Choice offers sliding fee scales based on income. Services include family medicine, pediatrics, dental care, and chronic disease management. The practice holds Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition from NCQA.
Med Plus Immediate Care
5585 Thomaston Rd, Macon, GA 31220
medplusimmediatecare.com
A locally operated walk-in clinic on Thomaston Road (next to Publix), Med Plus provides medical evaluation and treatment for adults and children without requiring appointments. The clinic functions as both a family practice and urgent care facility, offering on-site X-rays, suturing, strep/flu/COVID testing, DOT exams, sports physicals, and school physicals. Hours extend to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sundays, serving West Macon residents who need same-day care.
Avamed Care
205 Tom Hill Sr Blvd, Suite B, Macon, GA 31210
avamedcare.com
Avamed Care is an urgent care and walk-in clinic in the Tom Hill Senior Boulevard corridor that provides services including treatment of acute conditions, lab testing (blood work, urinalysis, drug screening), on-site X-rays, and occupational health services (pre-employment physicals, workplace injury treatment, and safety consultations). The clinic operates with flexible hours including weekends. Avamed accepts most insurance plans and offers walk-in availability without appointments.
Medical Clinics in Macon: Common Questions
Are there medical clinics in Macon, GA that accept patients without insurance?
First Choice Primary Care is Macon’s primary option for uninsured patients. As a federally qualified health center, it operates on a sliding fee scale based on household income and family size. No one is turned away for inability to pay. Additional locations at 400 Poplar Street and 171 Emery Highway serve different areas of Macon. Med Plus Immediate Care on Thomaston Road also accepts self-pay patients and can provide pricing before treatment.
What are the typical wait times at Macon walk-in clinics?
Walk-in wait times at Macon clinics vary by time of day and season. Monday mornings and flu season produce the longest waits. Med Plus Immediate Care and Avamed Care generally see patients within 30 to 60 minutes during normal volume periods. Piedmont Urgent Care locations and Atrium Health Navicent urgent care facilities offer online check-in that can reduce in-office wait times. For scheduled primary care appointments, new patient waits at Macon practices can extend 2 to 4 weeks at busier offices.
Is Macon considered a Health Professional Shortage Area?
Parts of Bibb County are designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) for primary care by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This designation reflects a below-average ratio of primary care physicians to population, particularly in South and East Macon. First Choice Primary Care’s establishment as a federally qualified health center was a direct response to this shortage. The HPSA designation also enables loan repayment programs that help recruit physicians to the area.
Can I get lab work and X-rays done at Macon clinics without a hospital visit?
Several Macon medical clinics offer on-site lab work and X-ray capabilities. Med Plus Immediate Care and Avamed Care both provide in-house X-rays and diagnostic testing including blood work, urinalysis, and rapid testing for strep, flu, and COVID. Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp also maintain patient service centers in Macon for stand-alone lab draws. On-site diagnostics at a clinic typically cost less than the same tests performed at a hospital outpatient facility.
How does Macon’s HPSA designation affect appointment availability?
The primary care shortage in parts of Bibb County means established practices often have limited new patient capacity, and existing patients may wait days for sick visits. Walk-in clinics like Med Plus Immediate Care and Avamed Care help absorb this demand by providing same-day access. Telehealth options through Atrium Health Navicent (24/7 virtual visits) and Piedmont Healthcare have also expanded access. Working families and Robins AFB dependents increasingly use extended-hours clinics to avoid traditional appointment constraints.