Urgent Care Clinics Becoming More Popular in Health Care
Since 2007, the number of urgent care clinics in the U.S. has increased by more than 7% to 8,700, according to the Urgent Care Association of America. Consumers are increasingly turning to urgent care centers, which are seen as more convenient and less costly than primary care physician offices or emergency departments. However, medical professionals say individuals need to recognize that EDs can provide care for life-threatening ailments and that physician groups have deeper understanding of a patient's medical history.
- "Urgent Care Clinics Carve Out a Key Health Care Niche" (Price, USA Today, 10/10).