SARANAC LAKE — Saranac Lake’s only urgent care will be closing its doors at the end of the year and transitioning into an appointment-based, walk-in office for non-emergency care.

Mountain Medical Services, at the corner of Broadway and Old Lake Colby Road, announced the closure on Friday, adding that its primary care office will not be affected by this transition.

The center, which is independently owned by Dr. Michael Pond, will reopen in January for a few days per week for things like sports and occupational physicals, drug testing, vaccinations, return to work documents and “some non-emergent care services.”

The letter did not explain the reason for the closure.

“This was a difficult decision for us, and we want to express our sincere gratitude for the trust and support you have shown us over the past 22 years,” staff and management wrote in a statement to the community.

The statement also said the MMS office will no longer be participating in or billing any health insurance plans after this month. It will offer employer-paid or self-pay services only and will not accept or bill insurance companies for its services.

“We understand that this may be an inconvenience, and we apologize for any disruption this may cause,” staff and management said in their statement. “Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your healthcare journey.”

Urgent care is for serious, but not life-threatening emergencies.

“If you put your family doctor on one side of a spectrum and the hospital emergency room on the other, then urgent care would fall right in the middle,” MMS’ website states. “Advantages of most urgent care clinics are that you do not need an appointment and in most cases, your insurance co-pay will be less than going to an emergency room.”

MMS’ urgent care center in Lake Placid has been closed for several years.