AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |
Back to Blog
Umc 24 hour urgent care8/3/2023 ![]() ![]() “Urgent Care Extra is a perfect example of that. UMC is eyeing expansion of its urgent care operations and Chung said expects the number of urgent care centers in the valley to grow from the 55-plus that are in the market today - tripling over the past decade - and for acquisitions to continue. Similarly, a Valley Health System spokeswoman said it had no current plans for urgent-care facilities. In an email, Dignity Health said it has its own medical group and no plans for urgent care at this time. Chung said UMC’s Quick Care, Concerta, Southwest Medical, Healthcare Partners and Urgent Care Extra are the leading players in the marketplace. UMC pioneered the urgent care model in 1989 and today operates seven centers under the name Quick Care. What HCA is doing is likely to be followed by Valley Health System with its five hospitals in Las Vegas and Dignity Health that operates three hospitals, said Andrew Chung, associate administrator for operations for UMC who oversees urgent care and outpatient clinics. HCA officials weren’t available to comment but their statement released earlier this week talked about the acquisition complementing its presence in the market and how it builds on a strategy to improve patient access to its health care system. They get referred to hospitals for diagnostic testing and referred to specialists and primary care physicians within the hospital. Patients who come through the urgent care center typically have insurance are going to need services beyond what’s offered there, Ayers said. It’s a way for the hospital to capture new patients and extend their relationship with existing patients and not lose any patients to others.” ![]() Urgent care can help the hospital increase their brand presence in a community. “The hospital environment has become very competitive for insured patients. “It goes to market share,” said Alan Ayers, a Dallas-based board member of the Urgent Center Association of America. So why the HCA move into the market and predictions other Southern Nevada hospital chains may pursue a similar strategy? Urgent care centers, which typically care of patients dealing with upper respiratory ailments, ear infections, sprains and fractures and cuts, are known for thin profit margins. HCA, which owns MountainView Hospital, Southern Hills Hospital, Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center and Sunrise Children’s Hospital in addition to four surgery centers, pursued a similar course in 2014 in Dallas-Fort Worth when it acquired 24 urgent care centers from CareNow. ![]() Not only did HCA get 14 centers from Arizona-based Urgent Care Extra but the deal included six others that are under development. More patients are turning to urgent care because they can’t get in to see their doctor and insurance plans with high deductibles make emergency rooms less desirable. It’s part of a national trend of hospital systems acquiring urgent care operations once derided as Doc in the Box. When HCA this week announced the acquisition of 14 urgent care centers in Las Vegas, it came as no surprise to those in the industry. Doctor Divina Averilla-Obena (cq), left, speaks with LPN Joan McCullough about a patient chart at the UMC Quick Care Peccole Ranch 9320 W.
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |