What are urgent care centers?
Urgent care centers provide timely and cost-effective care for non-emergency conditions — serving as a link between primary care physicians and the emergency department. Their rise can be attributed to the 73 percent of Americans who say they cannot see their family doctor after business hours or on the weekends. Urgent care centers provide same-day care for conditions requiring urgent care, i.e., the conditions that may deteriorate if not treated within 12-24 hours.
In contrast, urgent care clinics do not handle medical emergencies. If a patient's life is in danger or at risk of significant harm, a visit to the local emergency room (ER) is advised. However, unlike freestanding or hospital emergency rooms, these clinics offer round-the-clock care. Many clinics remain open on the weekends and public holidays. Moreover, a visit to the urgent care center may come at a fraction of the expense of a regular ER visit.
According to the Urgent Care Association, the number of urgent care centers surged from 6,400 in 2014 to 8,100 in 2018. Based on revenue, the urgent care centers sector will have a market size of $38.5 billion in 2021. The most common reasons clients attend urgent care centers are strains, sprains, mild fractures, scrapes and burns, and upper respiratory tract infections. Because of shorter wait times, reduced out-of-pocket costs, and faster consultations, these clinics far outnumber ERs. An emergency hospital visit for a sore throat would cost around $525, whereas an urgent care facility visit would cost $94. Similarly, a trip to the ER for a pink eye would cost $370, whereas a visit to the urgent care center would cost $102.
Services offered by urgent care centers
Consider visiting urgent care near you for minor and acute medical conditions and injuries requiring assistance within 24 hours and unsuitable for home remedies. These may include stitching up cuts or wounds, splinting strains, sprains, and fractures, treating burns, addressing seasonal fevers or infections, handling minor car accidents, treating abscesses, and more.
Furthermore, urgent care clinics provide the following services:
- Vaccinations and immunizations
- Onsite lab services and digital radiography for X-rays
- Routine preventative health services
- Diagnostic care for symptoms, illnesses, and injuries
- Medical examinations
What is the difference between an emergency room, a retail health clinic, and an urgent care center?
Associated with the Department of Health Care Policy. At Harvard Medical School, Dr. Ateev Mehrotra understands how confusing the distinction between urgent care centers, ERs, and retail health clinics might be. He explains further that three main features differentiate between these care options:
- The location of the facility - Emergency rooms may be freestanding facilities or located within a hospital setting. In contrast, urgent care centers are typically standalone; you may find them at office buildings or as drive-throughs. In comparison, retail health clinics can be found at drugstores, supermarkets like Walmart or Walgreens, stores that occupy larger spaces, and other large retail chains.
- The type of practitioner you will see - Emergency departments employ emergency medicine specialists, board-certified primary care physicians, pediatricians, OB-GYNs, sports medicine specialists, registered nurse practitioners, and radiologists. In comparison, you may find physician assistants, primary care doctors, laboratory technicians, sports medicine specialists, and nurse practitioners at an urgent care center. Retail health clinics, however, have a combination of nurse practitioners and physician assistants on the staff. It is also reported that a retail clinic could be 30-40% less expensive than an urgent care clinic.
- The range of treatments available - ERs are adequately equipped to handle life-threatening and fatal medical emergencies. These facilities have the necessary medical equipment (MRI and CT scanners) and personnel to provide emergency care to patients—urgent care centers offer essential diagnostic services, including X-ray tests, pregnancy tests, and bloodwork. Retail clinics, however, may not provide any testing facilities.
How to prepare for your first visit to an urgent care near you
Urgent care centers are excellent for addressing minor medical concerns, vaccinations, and basic lab work. These facilities focus on meeting general health needs that require prompt attention and are known for their accessibility and convenience. Here’s what you should know to prepare for your visit:
- Most urgent care centers accept walk-ins, meaning you don’t need an appointment. However, this could result in a wait time. To minimize delays, consider calling ahead, booking an appointment, or reserving your spot online. Many centers now offer online check-ins, allowing you to provide preliminary information before arrival, effectively reducing your time in the waiting room.
- Choosing an urgent care center which accepts your insurance can significantly lower your out-of-pocket costs if you have health insurance. Additionally, it’s essential to consider the center’s specialization. For example, if your child needs care, selecting a facility that focuses on pediatrics may be more suitable.
- Be sure to bring all relevant medical documentation, such as your insurance details, vaccination records, and past medical history. Remember that a doctor might not always treat you at these centers. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners often staff urgent care facilities and are equipped to diagnose and manage a variety of health issues. They can also recommend follow-up care if necessary.
- It’s worth noting that urgent care centers tend to be busier during evenings, weekends, and holidays, which can lead to longer wait times even with pre-booking. If your condition is mild or manageable, you might consider postponing your visit during peak hours.
Prominent urgent care organizations in the US
- American Board of Urgent Care Medicine (ABUCM) - The ABUCM is a non-profit organization that certifies urgent care physicians. It is dedicated to empowering physicians who specialize in critical care medicine. The board also acknowledges achievement in acute care medicine and recognizes providers that meet this criterion. The advisory guidelines released by ABUCM aim to improve patient care and establish standards of clinical competence in the field. The board is also involved in promoting the continuing education of professionals.
- National Urgent Care Center Accreditation (NUCCA) - Accreditation allows an urgent care center to evaluate its services and performance against nationally recognized benchmarks. Although certification is voluntary, it signifies a clinic's commitment to providing high-quality care. The NUCAA issues accreditation certificates, which help establish quality standards for healthcare professionals.
- Urgent Care Association (UCA) - With over 3,700 member centers in the United States and overseas, the UCA may be the most significant trade and professional association in urgent care. The members form a group of business experts, clinical practitioners, and suppliers of on-demand, consumer-centric healthcare. UCA's mission includes advocacy, education, research, collaboration, and high-quality standards for improving standards in urgent care and promoting success. A few strategic affiliates of the UCA are:
- The Urgent Care Association Political Action Committee (UCAPAC) - The UCAPAC is a national-level organization committed to electing politicians who advance the aims and interests of the urgent care industry. The PAC also aids UCA legislative efforts, such as direct advocacy at the provincial and municipal levels, lobbying administration at the federal and state levels, and critical contact networks.
- The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine (JUCM) - The Urgent Care Association's official journal is the JUCM. JUCM is a nationwide network of approximately 42,000 trained doctors and business and administrative professionals in urgent care clinics. Each journal issue includes a variety of peer-reviewed clinical and practice management papers that address the unique clinical and practice management demands of today's busy urgent care clinics.
- The College of Urgent Care Medicine (CUCM) - The CUCM is an organization that aims to build on the groundbreaking work done in medicine by UCA physicians. The foundation works to:
- Improve physician post-graduate fellowship education in urgent care medicine
- Provide continuous education through conferences, online learning, printed materials, journals, and other long-term resources.
- Assist in determining the best role for urgent care medicine in the nation's numerous, complex healthcare systems.
- American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine (AAUCM) - The AAUCM represents urgent care medicine physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. AAUCM's self-declared mission includes promoting the overall quality of medical care, scientific and medical research, and medical education in urgent care medicine. AAUCM also seeks to raise acute care standards through teaching, basic and advanced training, and encouraging physicians to pursue board certification.
- Joint Commission - The Joint Commission's objective is to continuously improve health care for the public by reviewing healthcare organizations and encouraging them to excel in providing safe and effective treatment of the highest quality and value in conjunction with other stakeholders. It ensures everyone receives the safest, highest-quality, and most cost-effective health care possible.
Find the top-rated urgent care specialists near you in Pittsburgh, PA
Family doctor's offices remain shut on evenings, weekends, and public holidays. If you cannot access your primary care physician, reaching out for an urgent care near you is the best choice. They provide patients with flexibility and ease of use while lowering the burden on emergency departments. However, selecting an urgent care center can take time and effort.
At Zocdoc, our mission has always been to improve patient satisfaction and well-being. You can search for "urgent care near me," Zocdoc will display the top-rated providers in and around Pittsburgh. In no time, you will see the list of the best urgent care physicians, sorted by specialty and availability.
If you are worried about finances, Zocdoc can help. Enter your insurance carrier's name, and we will find the best in-network providers to help you cut down on costs. Uploading a photo of your medical insurance card to Zocdoc is optional. While doing so can assist in accurately identifying your insurance plan, it’s not mandatory. If you prefer, you can manually select your insurance plan from a provided list and add the details directly to your account, ensuring flexibility and convenience. If you run into any issues during the process, you can reach out to the Zocdoc service team.
You can also enter a specific location within Pittsburgh, PA, for more targeted results. All Zocdoc providers have a unique profile. Here, you can learn more about the provider's background, such as their clinical training, board certifications, and specialty. Scheduling appointments with experts, practitioners, and clinics has always been challenging.
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Statistics of urgent care clinics in the US
As of February 2024, there were 10,728 operational urgent care clinics in the United States. These clinics provide convenient healthcare services for individuals needing immediate medical attention without an emergency medical condition.
Approximately half of all clinics were concentrated in ten densely populated states, with California (10%), Texas (8%), and Florida (7%) being among the top. Pennsylvania has approximately 379 urgent care centers as of February 2024.
As per the Urgent Care Association, 89.4% of the country’s population lives within a 20 minute drive of an urgent care center, thus making urgent care easily accessible. Urgent care clinics are also known to be more convenient than emergency departments because of lower visit times. The median visit time in an emergency department has been found to be 162 minutes while the average visit time in an urgent care clinic was reported as 60 minutes or less.
Given the dual role that urgent care centers play in bridging family medicine and emergency medicine, they are typically staffed accordingly. The staffing includes having at least one medical physician or specialist, along with the availability of a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or radiologist to attend to patients whenever the facility is open.
Sources
American Board of Urgent Care Medicine
American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine
National Urgent Care Center Accreditation
College of Urgent Care Medicine
Urgent Care Association Political Action Committee
Journal of Urgent Care Medicine
Urgent Care Association
Debt.org
Medical Daily
Harvard Health Publishing
Definitive Healthcare
Insider Intelligence
Integra Urgent Care
Urgent Care Association
Healthline
