The healthcare sector has undergone exciting changes over the last 25 years. The introduction of new medical practices and the technological advancements have completely redefined the sector in delivering low cost, high-quality care. And one recent development in healthcare is the fusion of emergency room and urgent care services. Until recently, these were the two the main options patients had when in need of medical help.
However, the decision whether to seek emergency or urgent care isn’t an outright one for most patients, and often it’ll depend on the nature of illness or injuries sustained. Emergency centers and urgent care clinics both play a significant role in delivering medical services. The good news for patients is that they’ll no longer have to choose between the two level of care. This is because numerous medical facilities have adopted the hybrid model urgent care and emergency clinics in a move aimed at ensuring more accessible, convenient and immediate care.
The hybrid healthcare system combines these two popular forms of treatment. How does it work? Well, depending on the type of care a patient needs and the severity of the injury or illness, doctors will assess the situation and administer the right treatment accordingly. It’s the patient’s condition that will determine the service line in which treatment should occur. Of course, the treatment costs are significantly different, and because of the high cost of emergency room care, patients often request urgent care.
A study done by Milliman reports that approximately 44-65% of all ER patients could have received urgent care instead. This has been attributed to lack of options among patients, which has forced many to choose the emergency room primarily for convenience. In fact, in most cases when you seek medical attention from an all exclusive emergency care center, you’ll be billed at ER Rates, even if it was a minor case like a headache. But with a hybrid ER and Urgent care model, you’re billed according to your condition.
Hybrid medical care system ensures that patients who suffer minor injuries and illness receive immediate care under the principle of urgent care while those with life-threatening conditions are treated under the emergency care unit. The most important thing about hybrid ER and Urgent care is that you get to relax and let the experts administer the right treatment they see fit.