About Urgent Care
Urgent care centers provide walk-in, extended hour access for acute illness and injury care that is either beyond the scope or availability of the typical primary care practice or retail clinic. There are over 8,500 urgent care centers in the US. Download a full industry information kit.
UCAOA now provides specific criteria for defining what an urgent care center is. Visit Urgent Care Certification to learn more. Urgent care centers have a broader and deeper scope of services than retail clinics, but are not equivalent to emergency departments. Urgent care ideally helps in reserving the nation's emergency room resources for more serious, life-threatening conditions.
Urgent care helps to improve both access to care and proper utilization of health system 
resources. There are many studies by the CDC and others that identify significant numbers of patients who went to an ER that could have been treated in urgent care centers. (UCAOA does recommend that all patients who believe they may have a life threatening condition seek care in an emergency facility.)
The ability of an urgent care center to provide immediate care for acute, non-life threatening illness and injury is a critical component of any community’s health system. Cooperation between patients, primary physicians, emergency departments and urgent care providers can create a network of care options that puts the patient in the right hands at the right time for the right level of care.
If you are looking for an urgent care center in your area, check our online listing.
Urgent Care Industry Growth
In the US, the number of urgent care centers is increasing by about 300 per year (approximately 332 from 08-09 and 304 from 09-10) - more in some areas. If you are interested in opening your own urgent care center, we encourage you to become a member of UCAOA, or attend a conference to learn more.
Updated 2/8/10
