“Urgent Care Clinics Fit Into the “Patient-First” Model of Care

The medical world is a billion-dollar industry responsible for treating millions of people every year. It can be easy for a patient to feel like just a name on a chart as doctors run from room to room diagnosing and prescribing. Fortunately, a new model of care has emerged, called the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) method. Every medical facility and personnel member plays a role in this model, including the urgent care clinic.

Changes in Healthcare

With the recent healthcare reform, all Americans should now have access to healthcare and health insurance. This means that individuals now have a responsibility for their own well being, which includes getting appropriate medical care. This should translate to patients making informed decisions regarding which doctors and facilities they choose in addition to establishing clear communication with medical personnel.

The key to an individual’s well-being stems from the method of care, and the PCMH model states that the primary physician should serve as a central point for communication. This was illustrated in 2012, when New York started making changes in order to accommodate a growing Medicaid program that was over-spending and under-providing. It was determined that primary care should be the central focus of any care system, as it improves evidence-based treatment and coordinated care.

The Case for Expanding Urgent Care

While a primary care doctor may be at the center, an urgent care clinic still plays an important role. These clinics provide an effective way for a patient to access the care he or she needs. As more people have healthcare coverage, more patients will begin seeking treatment. An urgent care facility can provide episodic care for individuals who would otherwise head to a primary care physician. This means those primary care doctors have more time to treat people with chronic illnesses and demand closer attention.

Additionally, walk in clinics provide care at much more affordable costs than emergency rooms. According to a 2010 Health Affairs study, up to 27 percent of ER cases could be effectively handled at an urgent care facility, potentially saving as much as $4.4 billion every year. Urgent care facilities can treat a wide range of illnesses and injury while at the same time saving patients money.

Integrating Urgent Care With Primary Care

As more people turn to walk in clinics for care, it is important to remember that a primary care physician should remain at the center of the picture. That means that individuals who go to an urgent care facility should have the records transmitted to their regular doctor. Likewise, physicians should always ask patients if they have received care elsewhere.

Some technology breakthroughs, such as electronic health records, could go a long way toward giving medical care providers a comprehensive view of a patient’s history. There are several states that are already embracing this system, though many more have yet to start sharing records electronically.

An urgent care clinic’s services undoubtedly play a key role in a patient-focused delivery model. Through providing episodic care for illnesses and injuries, a clinic can take the burden off primary care physicians and reduce the costs associated with an emergency room visit. It is important, however, for patients and their primary doctors to have clear communication about any treatment that is received. As new technologies such as e-records emerge, it will be easier for facilities to have access to a patient’s health history and provide better and more consistent care.”