This summer while traveling I was forced to visit an Urgent Care for a minor issue, nonetheless an irritant that needed to be addressed. I have never needed to utilize an Urgent Care and was not sure how easy/difficult it would be. I must say, the wait time was comfortable and entry process was not hard at all. The doctor saw me quickly, and I was out with a prescription in no time.
After that visit I am sure I will find an Urgent Care before walking into an ER for minor needs. My copay was much lower and time spent being treated was significantly less that if I would have went to an ER. But, I am curious… are other people visiting Urgent Cares rather than going to an ER?
I have read reports and looked at enough charts to know that there is no significant increase or decrease in ER numbers across the U.S. to make a determination if Urgent Cares are pulling business away from Emergency Rooms There are jumps in one direction or another in certain locations, but they tend to average out once you look at the big picture.
Which leads me to question, are privately owned Urgent Cares referring over enough business to hospitals, or are hospitals losing business?
I am sure that Emergency Rooms benefit from Urgent Cares taking on easier cases. However, are the mass amounts of Urgent Cares popping up coast to coast costing hospitals business? Or, are patients the ones that are really benefitting from the ease and lower costs associated with being seen at Urgent Cares?
I would be interested in hearing responses from our readers who work in ERs and Urgent Cares.
Chad Rosendale joined Aureus Medical Group in November 2012 as an Account Manager for the Physicians Division. Chad has since become a Regional Account Manager and works with facilities in multiple states, establishing working relationships with the facilities and providing them with physicians to meet their needs. In his free time, Chad enjoys working out and spending time with his family.