Institute:Office of National Coordinator (ONC) Workforce Training Curriculum
Component:Introduction to Health Care and Public Health in the U.S.
Unit:Delivering Health Care - Part 1
Lecture:Structure and Function of Health Care Facilities and Hospital Units
Slide content:Urgent Care Centers Also called immediate care centers For acute illness or injury not serious enough for a hospital emergency department (ED) Capability is intermediate between retail clinic and ED Service is available on walk-in basis Extended hours Advantageous for U.S. health care system Provide more health care for more people Reserve EDs for life-threatening emergencies 7
Slide notes:There are different types of health care facilities where patients receive medical care. Urgent care centers, also called immediate care centers, are community clinics that provide care on a walk-in basis. These centers are intended for acute illnesses or injuries that need immediate care but are not serious enough for a hospital emergency department , or ED. The word acute refers to an illness that has started or worsened in a fairly short amount of time. Urgent care centers do not have all the medical capabilities or around-the-clock operation characteristic of an ED. However, they are better equipped and have longer office hours than general clinics. Urgent care centers are considered advantageous to the health care system, because they allow more people to access care, and they reserve EDs for more life-threatening conditions. 7