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Download the article PDF: Twenty Years Of Progress And A Future We Will Lead
This April issue of JUCM marks a meaningful milestone: 20 years of publication serving the Urgent Care community. It’s fitting that this edition will be in-hand at the 2026 Urgent Care Convention in Chicago, surrounded by many of the individuals who have helped shape this industry over the past 2 decades.
Anniversaries provide an opportunity for reflection. They inspire us to look back with perspective and to look forward with intention. My own journey in Urgent Care began in 2004. I spent the prior 12 years working in a large health system after a stint on the payer side, and at the time, our model was still earning its place. Urgent Care centers were growing, but we were often described as a convenient alternative rather than an essential component of the healthcare system. We were working hard to establish operational consistency, and clinicians were refining clinical protocols. Policymakers certainly didn’t understand who we were and where we fit.
There was energy and entrepreneurial spirit, but there was also fragmentation. Standards varied, data was very limited, and advocacy wasn’t even a thing for us—at least not that I knew of. Many of us were building while explaining ourselves at the same time.
Urgent Care Transformation
Fast forward 20 years, and the transformation is undeniable. Urgent Care now serves millions of patients annually and plays a central role in expanding access across large and small communities. We have demonstrated our ability to reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization, provide high quality care in a timely manner, and deliver value in a healthcare environment that is increasingly cost conscious. We’ve embraced digital tools, improved patient experience, strengthened quality oversight, and matured operationally. What was once considered a niche model is now recognized as a foundational access point in everyday healthcare.
JUCM has been present through much of that evolution. For 2 decades, it has provided clinical guidance, operational insight, regulatory updates, and thoughtful analyses that have helped elevate standards across the field. Publications matter because they help define professional identity. They provide a shared knowledge base and reinforce that we are not operating in isolation, but as part of a growing and increasingly sophisticated discipline. The Urgent Care Association (UCA) has evolved alongside this progress.
Growth And Alignment
UCA’s past and present leadership teams have played a steady role in strengthening cohesion and credibility within our field. Early leaders recognized that growth alone was not enough. If Urgent Care was going to thrive long term, it needed structure, shared standards, and a unified voice. Under the leadership of those who came before us, UCA advanced accreditation efforts, developed clinical resources, supported benchmarking initiatives, and began shaping national advocacy conversations.
I am grateful for the leadership of so many who helped position UCA as a respected national voice. Their work created continuity and stability during periods of rapid expansion. They reinforced the importance of data, education, and collaboration at a time when the field was still defining itself.
Today, UCA’s leadership team, board, affiliates, advisory committees, and chapter leaders continue that work. We’re building on the foundation that was laid over the past 20 years while adapting to a healthcare landscape that is more complex than ever. When I reflect on these 2 decades, 1 theme consistently emerges: Progress accelerates when we are aligned.
- Alignment around clinical quality and evidence-based care.
- Alignment around workforce development and leadership growth.
- Alignment around fair and sustainable reimbursement.
- Alignment around telling our story clearly and confidently.
The reality is that no single operator, no matter how large or successful, can move the national conversation alone. Policymakers and payers respond to unified, data-supported positions. State regulators are influenced by organized, consistent engagement. Employers seek clarity and confidence when evaluating care partners. That’s where engagement with UCA matters.
When operators participate in UCA initiatives, whether through advocacy efforts, advisory groups, benchmarking programs, or regional chapter involvement, the collective impact extends well beyond the national stage. It affects conversations in state legislatures, influences local payer negotiations, and shapes regulatory frameworks that determine scope of practice, reimbursement structures, and compliance expectations. Being engaged at the industry level is not a distraction from local operations. It strengthens them.
I have seen firsthand how alignment at the national level creates momentum at the local level. When UCA advances a clear policy position in Washington, it gives operators language and credibility in their own markets. When we develop benchmarking data and quality metrics, it equips leaders with tools to demonstrate value to local employers and payers. When we elevate best practices through education and collaboration, it raises expectations and performance across communities. Stronger together is not a slogan. It’s a practical strategy.
Building An Industry
Healthcare today is more challenging than it was in 2006. Costs are higher, workforce pressures are real, regulatory scrutiny is greater, and expectations for measurable outcomes are increasing. But Urgent Care is also more experienced, more disciplined, and more unified than ever before. We are no longer simply building centers. We are building an industry. That responsibility requires continued engagement.
Operators who lean into UCA do more than attend conferences or read updates. They contribute to shaping policy priorities, informing quality initiatives, mentoring emerging leaders, and helping to ensure that decisions affecting our model are influenced by those who understand it best.
As we celebrate 20 years of JUCM and gather at this year’s Convention, there’s pride in how far we have come. There is also responsibility. The next 20 years will demand even greater clarity around value. We need to demonstrate measurable outcomes in ways that resonate with payers, employers, and policymakers. We need to strengthen partnerships with employers and health systems while preserving the agility that defines our model. We need to recruit and develop the next generation of clinicians and executives who will carry this field forward. We cannot assume that success will simply continue. We must lead intentionally.
From my vantage point, having watched this field evolve since 2004, I’m confident that we’re capable of doing just that. I’ve seen operators adapt during economic downturns, seen clinicians rise to meet unprecedented public health challenges, and I’ve seen collaboration replace competition when the broader field needed a unified response.
Urgent Care has always demonstrated resilience. What differentiates us now is maturity.
- We have better data to support our impact.
- We have leadership experience across markets.
- We have a national association positioned to advocate effectively.
- We have a publication like JUCM that continues to elevate standards and share insight.
Most importantly, we have a community that understands that our influence is amplified when we act together.
To the JUCM team, congratulations on 20 years of service to this field. Your work has informed, connected, and strengthened our profession in ways that are often unseen but deeply impactful.
To our UCA members and partners, thank you for your leadership and engagement. Whether you’ve been part of this industry since its early years or joined more recently, your participation shapes its trajectory.
And to those who may be considering a deeper commitment, I encourage you to get involved. Join the conversations, participate in the initiatives, engage with your regional chapters, and share your data and perspective. When you do, you’re not only strengthening UCA, you’re also strengthening your own organization and your local market.
Twenty years ago, Urgent Care was still proving it belonged. Today, it is proving it leads. The next chapter will be written by those who choose to engage, collaborate, and think strategically about where this field must go.
I look forward to continuing that work with you. Together, we have built something meaningful, and together, we will define what comes next.