The Urgent Care Association (UCA) — the nonprofit trade association for Urgent Care professionals —along Urgent Care centers across the country, urge communities to vote with their actions this Urgent Care Awareness Month and choose Urgent Care (over the emergency room) for their non-emergent health concerns.

Urgent Care centers prevent approximately 24.5 million emergency room visits annually, significantly alleviating the strain on emergency departments while saving patients and the healthcare system valuable time and resources. This data underscores the importance of Urgent Care centers in managing non-emergent cases effectively and underscores their essential status within the healthcare system. 

“Through our collaboration with CMS and our daily operations, we are working to ensure that Urgent Care centers are reimbursed properly so they can continue to treat their patients with timely, high-quality care in their moments of need,” UCA Advocacy Manager Kristin Rastatter said.

UCA has been working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) on Urgent Care-positive policies. The association delivered a letter to CMS that received bipartisan support and signatures from 26 members of Congress and is currently in the talks with the agency to determine next steps. Representative Kuster’s press release (N.H.) can be read here.

The specialized expertise of Urgent Care clinicians enable them to diagnose and treat a diverse array of acute medical conditions, including cuts, sprains, fractures, infections, and respiratory illnesses, ensuring patients receive appropriate and timely care. With a focus on efficiency and effectiveness, Urgent Care providers swiftly assess patients’ conditions and deliver tailored treatment plans. 

Urgent Care is where patient care and consumer experience intersect. With individuals receiving personalized care and experiencing minimal wait times, patients in an Urgent Care setting are typically seeing a healthcare provider within 30 minutes of arrival. 

“Our focus on patient-centered care extends beyond policy advocacy; it can be seen in every aspect of our work,” Rastatter said. “From our quality programs to expanding education database, UCA supports Urgent Care professionals in their steadfast commitment to putting patients first.”