Dr. Lisa Clay, MD
Board-Certified Family Physician | Co-Founder & Medical Director
PHYSICIAN-LED URGENT CARE IN CARMEL, INDIANA
Dr. Lisa Clay, MD
Founder & Medical Director, Monarch Medicine Urgent Care
Board-certified family physician · Nineteen years of clinical experience · Urgent care, not primary care
About Dr. Clay
I am Lisa Clay, the physician who started Monarch Medicine Urgent Care in May 2024.
I have practiced family medicine for nineteen years. Before Monarch, I spent those years inside the system — in clinics, in emergency rooms, watching patients move through waiting rooms full of people who needed less attention than they got, or more.
I started Monarch because I wanted to do urgent care differently. Same-day access. Real exam time. A physician who reviews your X-ray images with you, explains what we are seeing, and helps you understand the next step. Pricing you understand before treatment. Your visit notes flowing back to your primary care doctor through MyChart so your record stays intact.
Monarch Medicine is urgent care, not primary care. We are the place you come when you cannot get into your PCP today and you do not need an emergency room. That is what we do, and we want to do it well.
I built Monarch with my husband Todd, who leads the operations and business side of the clinic. I lead the clinical practice. Together we built a small clinic in Carmel, Indiana that we hope feels different from the moment you walk in.
Education & Credentials
- Medical Degree: University of Illinois School of Medicine
- Board Certification: Family Medicine, American Board of Family Medicine
- Residency Training: Family Medicine Residency, Muncie, Indiana
- Licensure: State of Indiana Medical License (verifiable through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency)
- Years of Practice: Nineteen years across family and urgent care medicine
My Care Philosophy
Urgent care should not feel rushed just because it is same-day care. People come to us when something is wrong, when they are worried, or when they cannot wait three weeks for an appointment.
My job is to listen, examine, explain what I think is happening, and help you leave with a plan you understand.
Areas of Clinical Focus
Urgent care for children, teenagers, adults, and seniors. The conditions I see most often:
Acute Illness
Cold, flu, COVID, RSV, strep, sinus and ear infections, bronchitis, UTIs, mild allergic reactions, asthma symptoms without severe breathing distress, migraines, gastroenteritis.
Injury
Sprains, strains, minor fractures, lacerations requiring stitches, burns, animal bites, splinter and foreign object removal, splinting and crutches.
Pediatric Urgent Care
Fever, ear infections, strep, RSV, COVID, hand-foot-mouth, croup, minor injuries, asthma exacerbations.
Women's Health
UTIs, vaginitis, yeast infections, mastitis, STI testing, pregnancy testing.
Diagnostic Imaging & Lab
Digital X-ray, EKG, rapid testing (flu, strep, COVID, RSV, mono), urinalysis, LabCorp blood draws.
Physicals & Compliance
IHSAA sports physicals, healthcare student physicals (CastleBranch, Complio), pre-op evaluations, employment physicals, camp physicals, Tdap booster, TB testing, immunity titers.
When to call 911 or go to the ER instead: chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe breathing trouble, severe allergic reaction, major trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, or any life-threatening symptoms. Urgent care is for non-life-threatening illness and injury.
What I Do Not Do
I am not a primary care physician. I do not manage chronic disease, do annual wellness exams, or maintain an ongoing PCP panel. For those, you need your primary care doctor. If you do not have one, IU Health, Ascension St. Vincent, and Community Health Network are good places to check for primary care availability in the Carmel area.
FROM PATIENTS WE HEAR FROM OFTEN
Common Questions Patients Ask
Can I make Dr. Clay my primary care doctor?
No. I am an urgent care physician, not a primary care doctor. Some insurance directories list Monarch Medicine in primary care results — that is a directory error, not a service we offer. We work alongside your primary care doctor, not as one. If you do not have a PCP yet, IU Health, Ascension St. Vincent, and Community Health Network are good places to check for primary care availability in the Carmel area.
Does Dr. Clay see every patient who walks in?
No. I am one of the physicians on the Monarch team. We are physician-led, which means every patient is evaluated by a physician on our team — not through a non-physician-only visit model. But I do not personally see every visit. The available physician on duty will see you when you walk in.
Can I request to see Dr. Clay specifically?
Yes — ask when you book or call ahead. I cannot guarantee availability for walk-in visits, but if I am on duty when you arrive, we will do our best to honor that request.
Does Dr. Clay have admitting privileges at IU Health or Ascension?
Monarch Medicine is an outpatient clinic. We do not admit patients to a hospital. When inpatient or specialist care is needed, we refer and coordinate through Epic and MyChart so your care continues seamlessly.
What insurance does Dr. Clay accept?
The same as Monarch Medicine: Anthem BCBS, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, and Encore/IU Health Plans. We are not in network with Medicaid or Humana. Self-pay is also available — see our self-pay pricing.
How can I reach Dr. Clay between visits?
Through MyChart messaging if you have an existing visit on file with Monarch. For urgent clinical concerns, call (317) 804-4203 during open hours. For after-hours emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Does Dr. Clay see children?
Yes. I provide pediatric urgent care for children of all ages, including same-day evaluation for fever, ear infections, strep, RSV, COVID, and minor injuries. For well-child visits and routine immunizations, see your child's pediatrician.
DR. CLAY'S WRITING
Health Articles by Dr. Clay
I write articles for the Monarch blog to help patients understand common conditions, when to come in, and when to wait it out. Browse the latest below.
Managing Persistent Cough with Immediate Care in Carmel, IN
Book An Appointment Today Most coughs after a respiratory illness resolve within 1–2 weeks. When one doesn’t — when it’s still there at week three, disrupting sleep, triggering with every cold breath of Indiana air, or producing symptoms that seem to be getting worse rather than better — that’s when evaluation changes from optional…
Find Fast Allergy Relief at Urgent Care Near Zionsville
Book An Appointment Today Indiana’s allergy seasons are among the most aggressive in the Midwest. Tree pollen arrives in March, grass pollen peaks through June, and ragweed dominates August through October—giving Hamilton County residents including Zionsville families a nearly continuous allergy season that OTC antihistamines often can’t adequately manage. At Monarch Medicine, our illness…
Get Fast, Expert Burn Care at Monarch Medicine Urgent Care
Check In Online Hot drinks, steam, and brief contact with a hot surface can cause painful burns. Monarch Medicine provides minor burn care in Carmel as part of our in-office treatments. A physician evaluates the injury and determines whether it can be managed here or needs emergency or specialist care. The right place for…
How to Choose the Best Urgent Care Near You Carmel IN
Book An Appointment Today Home › Blog › How to Choose the Best Urgent Care in Carmel, IN Patient Resources How to Choose the Best Urgent Care in Carmel, IN What to look for — and what to avoid — when urgent care matters most. Written by Dr. Lisa Clay, MD Founder & Medical…
Your Flu Visit at Monarch Medicine: What to Expect
Check In Online Home › Blog › Your Flu Visit at Monarch Medicine Illness Treatment Your Flu Visit at Monarch Medicine: What to Expect What to bring, how care decisions are made, and how to plan your recovery. Written by Dr. Lisa Clay, MD Founder & Medical Director, Monarch Medicine Urgent Care Board-Certified Family…
Understanding Pediatric Otalgia (Ear Pain) – Causes, Symptoms, and Care
Book An Appointment Today Home › Blog › Pediatric Ear Pain in Carmel, IN Pediatric Care Pediatric Ear Pain and Ear Infections: A Parent’s Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment in Carmel Why ear pulling is a misleading symptom — and what the AAP guidelines actually say about when children need antibiotics for ear infections. Written…
What Does an Infected Cat Bite Look Like? Understanding the Signs and When to Seek Care
Book An Appointment Today Home › Blog › Injury Care › Infected Cat Bite Treatment in Carmel, IN Injury Care — Animal Bites Infected Cat Bite Treatment in Carmel, IN — Why Cat Bites Are High-Risk and When to Come In Cat bites have a 50–80% infection rate — higher than any other animal bite.…
Understanding Ringworm Symptoms: What to Look For
Check In Online Home › Blog › Skin Conditions › Ringworm Treatment in Carmel, IN Skin Conditions Ringworm (Tinea) Treatment in Carmel, IN — Causes, Symptoms & When to Come In Ringworm is a fungal infection. Treatment depends on where it appears and how severe it is; an examination can help distinguish it from…
How to Identify and Treat an Infected Cut
Book An Appointment Today Home › Blog › Infected Cut Treatment in Carmel, IN Injury Care Infected Cuts: Signs, Treatment, and When to Come In — Carmel, IN Why red streaks are a medical emergency, why hydrogen peroxide doesn’t belong inside wounds, and the closure timing window that determines whether stitches are still an option.…
Discover Quality Healthcare at Monarch Medicine Urgent Care in Westfield
Book An Appointment Today Serving Westfield, IN · 20 Min Away Urgent Care Near Westfield, IN Monarch Medicine Urgent Care is approximately 20 minutes from downtown Westfield — physician-led, walk-in, open 7 days, with Epic/MyChart integration for seamless care coordination. ✓ MD at every visit ✓ On-site X-ray ✓ Walk-in, no appointment ✓ Epic/MyChart…
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WHERE DR. CLAY PRACTICES
Monarch Medicine — What We Do
Urgent Care in Carmel
Walk-in same-day care for illness and injury, seven days a week.
Full Services List
Every service Monarch offers, organized by category.
Self-Pay Pricing
Transparent rates for patients without insurance.
Healthcare Student Physicals
CastleBranch, Complio, Tdap, TB testing, titers.
WHAT PATIENTS SAY
Read What Carmel Families Say About Monarch
Real reviews from real patients, pulled directly from Google. We have earned a 5.0 rating across more than 170 reviews. Read what your neighbors are saying.
Walk In and See a Physician on Our Team
Same-day urgent care in Carmel. No appointment needed. Most insurance accepted.
Book An Appointment Call (317) 804-4203
Mon–Fri 8am–6pm · Sat–Sun 9am–12pm
90 Executive Drive, Suite A & B, Carmel, IN 46032
How This Page Is Maintained
This is the bio page of Dr. Lisa Clay, MD, Founder and Medical Director of Monarch Medicine Urgent Care. Education, board certification, and licensure listed here are current as of May 2026. Indiana medical license verification is publicly available through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. Page content is reviewed quarterly and updated when credentials change.
The health information provided on this website and in Dr. Clay's articles is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance. For life-threatening conditions, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.