Practice Management
Urgent care has long been defined for its model of “test and treat” for minor, non-chronic health conditions. Patients presenting with symptoms typically receive a rapid, on-site lab test, and based on the results, the provider makes a diagnosis and orders a prescription. It’s a given that lab testing is a defining service and core capability of urgent care centers. Based on 34 million patient charts in Experity EMR from January 1 through December 31, …
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Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc Urgent Message: While there are seemingly countless applications for artificial intelligence in healthcare, ambient scribes and front desk automation are key solutions that are readily available for adoption by urgent care providers. Citation: Ayers AA. Two AI Trends That Will Change Urgent Care. J Urgent Care Med. 2025; 19(8):xx-xx Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare, and urgent care operators have increasing opportunities to leverage AI in a way that …
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Alan Ayers, MBA, MAcc Urgent Message: Legislation for the licensure of urgent care centers has been enacted or proposed in 4 states for 2025, creating state administrative offices that can further define rules affecting operations. Citation: Ayers AA. State Legislation Could Impact Urgent Care Facilities. J Urgent Care Med. 2025; 19(7):43-45 Several states have recently proposed rules calling for the regulation of urgent care centers. While most of the bills have a long journey ahead …
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While patients and payers may expect urgent care to be available 7-days a week, approximately 20% of urgent care centers are closed on Saturdays, and approximately 30% are closed on Sundays, according to a February 2025 analysis of 14,301 centers by National Urgent Care Realty and Urgent Care Consultants. Of the centers open 7 days a week, 24% open and close at the same time every day. Otherwise, centers that are open weekends are likely …
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Urgent Message: Urgent care has long marketed itself as providing immediate care for acutely rising conditions, and true to this reputation, an analysis of clinical and administrative variables in electronic medical records shows the greatest predictor of patient satisfaction is visit duration. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc Citation: Ayers AA. Shorter Visits Drive Greater Patient Satisfaction in Urgent Care. J Urgent Care Med. 2025; 19(6):37-43 As a retail delivery channel, urgent care depends on future …
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 Between May, 20231 and December, 2024, the number of retail-host clinics in the United States fell 21.7% from 1,750 to 1,370, according to data from National UC Realty. Not only did CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart announce significant clinic closures in 2024, there has been little to no growth among the remaining retail clinic operators. The top 5 retail hosts make up 95% of in-store clinics nationally and only 2% of total clinics are in independent …
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Urgent Message: While legal under circumstances outlined by federal and state law, docking employee pay for violating an employer’s policies may be viewed as demoralizing and unethical versus punitive actions like warnings or suspension. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc Citation: Ayers AA. The Legality of Docking the Pay of Urgent Care Employees. J Urgent Care Med. 2025; 19(5):41-43 Workers frequently make mistakes on the job. Some are mere oversights that are quickly corrected, while others …
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Urgent Message: As retail pharmacies reinvent themselves, urgent care has an opportunity to grow within the shifting market dynamic. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc, is President of Urgent Care Consultants and Senior Editor of JUCM: The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. Citation: Ayers AA. Reimagining Retail Pharmacy as Major Chains Downsize Offerings. J Urgent Care Med. 2025 19(4)43-47. Retail pharmacies are at a crossroads. Once the go-to destination for prescriptions and over-the-counter health/beauty merchandise, major …
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By comparing 2022 and 2024 hourly compensation data from the Urgent Care Association (UCA) Clinician Compensation Benchmarking Report, data shows that there has been a 15% increase in nurse practitioner (NP) and physician assistant (PA) pay. Meanwhile, there was an average 19% increase in physician (MD and DO) pay.1 In 2024, the median reported hourly base compensation (excluding bonuses and incentives) showed an increase compared to 2022 rates across all clinician types. This rise likely …
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Urgent Message: Rural urgent care is the industry’s fastest growing segment, influenced by rural primary care shortages, hospital closures and extended ED wait times, but operational staffing and reimbursement complexities must be navigated. Alan A. Ayers, MBA, MAcc Citation: Ayers A. Rural Urgent Care Grows, But Challenges Remain. J Urgent Care Med. 2024; 19(3): 17-21 As access to care in rural areas continues to decline, urgent care (UC) can play a pivotal role in the …
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