Outcomes of Establishing an Urgent Care Centre in the Same Location as an Emergency Department

This study examined whether placing an urgent care centre next to an emergency department could reduce pressure on the ED and support surge capacity. Compared with similar patients treated in the ED, patients seen in the urgent care centre had much shorter waits to see a physician, shorter total stays, and used fewer lab and imaging services, with lower average costs. The two settings had similar outcomes for referrals, revisits, and hospitalizations in this sample. The findings suggest that a co-located urgent care centre can safely absorb lower-acuity patients, improve everyday flow, and create a flexible extra treatment area during disasters or pandemics.