American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume 18, Issue 2 , Pages 123-125, March 2000

The influence of an urgent care center on the frequency of ED visits in an urban hospital setting

  • Brenda Merritt, MD

      Affiliations

    • From the Department of Emergency Medical Services, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY. USA
    • ,
  • Edwin Naamon, MD

      Affiliations

    • From the Department of Emergency Medical Services, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY. USA
    • ,
  • Stephen A Morris, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests to Stephen A. Morris, MD, PhD, Box 90, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032.
    • From the Department of Emergency Medical Services, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY. USA
    • the Department of Medicine, College of Physicans and Surgeons, New York, NY. USA

Received 17 April 1998; received in revised form 12 May 1998 and 4 June 1998; accepted 14 August 1998.

Abstract 

We examined the effect of a visit to an Urgent Care Center (UCC) on emergency department (ED) use by patients with nonemergent complaints. A study population of 1,629 patients with no previous visit to a UCC were identified and served as their own controls. The ED and clinic usage 6 months before and 6 months after a UCC visit were examined. After the UCC visit for adults there was a 48% reduction in ED visits (P = .0001) and 49% increase in clinic visits (P = .0001). After the UCC visit for children there was a 28% reduction in ED visits (P < .005) and 65% increase in clinic visits (P = .0001). Moreover the majority of clinic visits occurred within 90 days after the UCC visit. There was no substantial change in patterns of hospitalization 6 months after the UCC visit. We conclude that UCC usage decreases nonemergent ED use without adverse effects of increased patient hospitalization.

Keywords:  Emergency department, urgent care center, triage

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PII: S0735-6757(00)90000-7

American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume 18, Issue 2 , Pages 123-125, March 2000

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