December 27, 2023- The number of urgent care centers continues to rise. According to the Urgent Care Association, there are over 14,000 such centers in the U.S. (not including retail clinics), and the current growth rate for new ones is 7%. Over 78% of the U.S. population lives within a 10-minute drive of an urgent care center. As such, they represent a growing opportunity for distribution. And they’re getting bigger – through consolidation – all the time.
Urgent care bridges the gap between primary care and emergency care, providing evaluation and care for urgent, but not emergent, conditions, according to the UCA. This includes treating minor burns, scrapes and cuts, but also treating conditions such as allergic reactions, ear infections and strep throat. Care volume can be seasonal, typically spiking during late fall and winter, during the respiratory season, correlating to the intensity of the flu, COVID-19, RSV and other respiratory illnesses.
Most centers stabilize and treat fractures and offer onsite X-ray, laboratory and lab services. Where allowed by state law, many centers dispense commonly prescribed pre-packaged medications. They do not care for life- or limb-threatening situations but do stabilize patients while securing emergency transport. The majority of urgent care centers employ family practice and emergency medicine trained physicians, as well as licensed healthcare professionals, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and radiology technicians.
Urgent care centers provide laboratory testing both onsite as well as those that can be sent out to regional or national laboratories, says UCA. Examples of available testing may include blood testing services such as Complete Blood Count, Comprehensive Metabolic Profile, diabetic testing (hemoglobin A1c, fingerstick glucose), urine pregnancy, urinalysis, rapid strep throat cultures, and rapid influenza testing. Centers also routinely offer tuberculosis testing; drug screens from urine, hair and saliva; and cultures for STIs and urinary tract infections.
Learn More in the latest issue of The Journal of Healthcare Contracting.