Why Urgent Care is Growing So Fast

02/01/23 • 15 min

2 Listeners

Urgent care centers are popping up everywhere! Patient volumes ballooned 60% since before the pandemic, and investors keep eating it up.
In this episode of CareTalk, John and David explore what's behind the rapid growth of urgent care and why it matters.
Topics:
(0:53) What is urgent care?
(1:50) Urgent care growth by the numbers
(3:30) Is urgent care actually more expensive?
(4:30) How urgent care promotes more access to care
(5:50) Why is urgent care growing so much?
(11:20) Why are investors bullish on urgent care?
(13:17) Will urgent care centers undermine the doctor/patient relationship?
Dive deeper into this episode and read our report: What is Causing the Rapid Growth of Urgent Care in America?
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CareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy.
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CareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy.
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CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. - Why Urgent Care is Growing So Fast

Transcript

David00:00:00.089

Urgent care centers are popping up all over the place. Patient volumes jumped 60% since the start of the pandemic, and investors keep rushing in. But what is urgent care anyway? Why should patients go to urgent care instead of a doctor's office, retail clinics, or the emergency room? And what does this growth mean for overall cost, quality and access to care? Welcome to Care Talk America's home for Incisive, and yes, sometimes even urgent debate abou

Why Urgent Care is Growing So Fast Top Questions Answered

Why are urgent care centers growing so fast?

Urgent care centers are growing rapidly due to increased demand, convenience, accessibility, and profitability.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the growth of urgent care centers?

The pandemic accelerated the demand for urgent care as other healthcare options became limited, leading to increased utilization of urgent care services.

Who invests in urgent care centers?

Private equity firms have invested in urgent care centers due to their potential for profit and convenience.

What concerns are associated with the rise of urgent care centers?

Concerns include their impact on the doctor-patient relationship, continuity of care, and overprescribing of antibiotics.

How do urgent care centers differ from emergency care and primary care?

Urgent care centers handle non-emergency conditions like common colds, sprains, ear infections, and rashes, while also being capable of handling more serious conditions like broken bones and stitches.

Why are urgent care visits cheaper than emergency room visits?

Urgent care visits cost significantly less than emergency room visits, making them a more cost-effective option.

How many urgent care clinics are there compared to emergency rooms?

There are approximately 11,000 urgent care clinics compared to about 4,000 emergency rooms.

What is the value of the urgent care industry?

The urgent care industry is worth around $50 billion.

Who primarily uses urgent care centers?

Urgent care centers primarily serve individuals with commercial insurance, while emergency rooms are obligated to treat everyone, including the uninsured and Medicaid recipients.

Why are urgent care centers more accessible than primary care?

Access to primary care is not convenient in the US, and urgent care centers have filled that gap by providing accessible locations, extended hours, and quick service.

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