MedFast Urgent Care President and Chief Executive Officer Aimee Larkin Overseeing Excellent Care for Patients

Larkin joined MedFast as chief operating officer six years ago

Healthcare When You Need It Now: Medfast Urgent Care Now features 17 Central Florida locations – and growing!

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Finding a successor to continue the achievements of a project near and dear to your heart is often very difficult, but not for Dr. David Williams, founder of MedFast Urgent Care, the area’s largest and most comprehensive provider of urgent care services.

Dr. Williams knew former COO Aimee Larkin was the right person to guide MedFast during its next chapter as its new president and CEO, a title Dr. Williams had held since he founded MedFast in 2007.

“Aimee has managed the development of multiple new urgent care centers,” Dr. Williams said.

“Over the years, she has assumed the management responsibilities for all aspects of operations. Aimee is a trusted advisor and great teammate. She provides a fresh perspective to the company’s mission and continued growth.”

Larkin joined MedFast as chief operating officer six years ago, just before the practice faced almost insurmountable challenges with COVID-19 that would test the mettle of the MedFast team.

Dr. Williams became the “COVID Hunter,” researching the insidious virus and dispelling the plethora of misinformation being promoted through weekly appearances on Space Coast Daily Television and lectures to first responders on emerging protocols. Even when tests and equipment were scarce, Dr. Williams and Larkin were able to keep the doors open through their efforts with the Florida Department of Health.

“We never closed,” Larkin said. “Our staff did a great job not only maintaining services, but also growing the practice.”

As Central Florida grows, so does the area’s need for additional resources to handle minor emergencies. MedFast has responded with a constantly increasing presence along the Space Coast and into Volusia County.

High Standard of Care

Larkin is currently in the midst of establishing a new office in West Melbourne. The practice currently operates 17 offices in Cocoa Beach, Melbourne (three offices), Merritt Island, Palm Bay (three offices), Port St. John (two offices), Rockledge, Suntree, Titusville (three office), Viera and Edgewater in Volusia County.

And, that’s just for starters.

“We’re still growing,” Larkin said.

Larkin, who believes in being intrinsically versed in all aspects of practice operations, oversees the work of 60 medical providers and 300 staff members.

“I personally handpick new team members,” she said.

Larkin credits provider educator Lori Spicer for increasing MedFast’s retention rate through provider training and on-going support.

“Lori really helps to close the gaps,” Larkin said.

Spicer was considering retirement from her role as urgent care nurse practitioner, but Larkin encouraged her to stay. In 2022, her role was expanded to provider educator and patient care coordinator. In her provider educator role, Spicer trains new providers and advises all providers regarding patient services and any medical care questions, ensuring the standard of care is met with every patient.

Strong Leadership

As patient care coordinator, she responds to patient concerns about quality of care, provider service, and follow-up needs. For Spicer, Larkin is the perfect boss.
“She is the type of leader anyone would love to follow,” she said.

“She is always available, sensitive to staff needs, and understands the importance of job/life balance. She is extremely efficient, acutely knowledgeable and highly professional, tough when she needs to be but always very caring and thoughtful. I truly enjoy working for MedFast under Aimee’s strong leadership.”

Larkin believes it is the strength of the MedFast team that has helped the practice thrive and grow even under the duress of the pandemic.

“Our staff gives 100 percent,” she said. “We are a family, a tight-knit group.”

An urgent care team, unlike primary care providers or specialists, does not have the luxury of scheduled appointments and “regular” working hours.

Responsible for treating patients who need medical care immediately, these practitioners are equipped to diagnose and treat a spectrum of non-life-threating but nevertheless urgent medical conditions and provide services with extended hours and weekends.

MedFast offices, for example, are open from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, serving as intermediary between the routine care of a family physician and the help provided by doctors in an emergency department.

“MedFast is an excellent resource that prevents ERs from becoming overrun, enabling patients with true emergencies to receive immediate care,” Spicer said. “At MedFast, we have the training, knowledge and facilities to quickly diagnose and treat a variety of injuries and illnesses.”

Since MedFast accepts most insurances, the service is also ideally suited for patients who are either unable or prefer not to schedule appointments with primary care providers.

“We also have a very affordable self-pay rate, so patients know how much it’s going to cost up front, so it’s very convenient for patients who are visitors to the area or who do not have insurance,” Larkin added.

Healthcare has always been in the forefront for Larkin, whose mother, who recently passed away, served as a registered nurse for more than 30 years. Larkin herself has almost two decades in the healthcare field.

“My passion has always been healthcare,” she said.

Larkin is a Kokomo, Indiana, native, but barely, as her family moved to Melbourne when she was just eight months old. She attended our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Melbourne, Melbourne Central Catholic and Easter Florida State College. She recently married Melbourne attorney David Larkin. Together, the Indian Harbour Beach couple boast seven children and three grandchildren.

Impactful Mentor

When she joined MedFast, the practice numbered nine locations. In six years on the job, Larkin has added eight more offices, with two more on the way, with invaluable help from Alexandra Boles, who joined the practice in 2017 as director of business development and was promoted to COO after Larkin assumed her current role.

“Aimee Larkin has been such an impactful person in my career journey,” Boles said.

“She has helped me grow immensely these last six years and has always seen my potential and value in the company. I view her as a wonderful mentor and a huge part of my success in the healthcare industry and at Medfast Urgent Care. She always finds an opportunity to acknowledge a job well done by her employees and inspires them to grow to the best of their ability. She is extremely empathetic with all patients and treats them as she would her own friends and family. Healthcare administrators and bosses like her do not come often enough and I believe she is a huge reason for the success of MedFast over the last few years.”

Medical director Dr. Davie Etienne attributes MedFast’s success to Larkin’s ability to welcome and heed advice from the team.

“Aimee is a progressive leader and incorporates new ideas and feedback from her staff to better serve our patients,” he said.

“She works tirelessly to help her providers feel comfortable and have everything they need to succeed in providing excellent care to patients. It’s been a wonderful journey working with Aimee and seeing the changes we’ve implemented to improve the patient experience and care.”

For more information, call 321-MEDFAST(633-3278) or visit MedFastcare.com.

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