A RAND Corp. study found that approximately 17% of all visits to EDs across the U.S. could be treated at urgent care centers and retail medical clinics, “potentially saving $4.4 billion annually in health care costs.”1 The study was funded by the California HealthCare Foundation.
Researchers compared the profiles of people who visited clinics and urgent care centers with those who visited EDs during 2006. They looked at the severity of injuries and illnesses seen in EDs, and the volume and mix of cases that are seen when alternative care settings are available. The study did not evaluate whether clinics and urgent care centers have the capacity to treat higher numbers of patients.
“There is some evidence that emergency departments, retail clinics and urgent care centers provide care that is similar in quality, but more research is needed before large numbers of patients can be encouraged to seek care in alternative settings.”
Reference
- Weinick RM, Burns RM, Mehrota A. “Many emergency department visits could be managed at urgent care centers and retail clinics.” Health Affairs. 2010;29:1630—1636.
doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0748
