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.