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- B Merritt, E Naamon, and S A Morris.
- Department of Emergency Medical Services, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
- Am J Emerg Med. 2000 Mar 1; 18 (2): 123-5.
AbstractWe 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.
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