Urgent Care Centers Are Ready to Help in Emergencies, Research Finds, but Lack Support from Healthcare Organizations, Local Communities

​The number of urgent care centers in the United States is growing each year, and they are increasingly well-positioned to be an alternative destination for some kinds of emergency department (ED) visits, according to a report published in March 2018 by ASPR TRACIE (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). The report said that other research has indicated that an urgent care center could be an appropriate care destination for at least 13% of ED visits. Urgent care centers could also play an effective role during disasters or large-scale emergencies, treating injuries or illnesses with low to moderate urgency, according to the report.