Sentara Health has acquired full ownership of Velocity Urgent Care, according to a press release. The hospital system has been operating Velocity as a joint venture for more than 6 years, and with the acquisition, has plans to open a new location in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, early next year. With nearly 200 employees, the Velocity network of centers currently serves patients in 17 locations in Virginia. The integration aims to enhance patient access and align with Sentara’s comprehensive offerings, including walk-in services, primary care, therapy, imaging, and mobile clinics. The move is part of Sentara’s strategic expansion. As a not-for-profit system, Sentara operates more than 100 sites overall in Virginia and North Carolina.
Come on in: A number of hospital systems are launching or acquiring urgent care centers with an eye toward drawing patients into their other system services, such as testing labs or primary care. As a referral source, the convenience of urgent care has the potential to inspire new patient loyalty.