Where is a Patient to Go? Planning Unplanned Medical Care
In a perfect world, accidents would only happen during business hours and primary care physicians would manage these problems. Now when a patient has an emergent problem most primary care physicians immediately refer him to an Urgent Care or Emergency facility for treatment. Available appointments with the primary physicians are few and far between. This brings us to the current growth of Urgent Care and Emergency facilities. The public’s demand for immediate access to 24-7 medical care has fueled this growth. The rise in growth started in the 1990s and continues to increase today. The increase in accessibility has made the choices more confusing for patients. With the Affordable Care Act and increased patient deductibles, patients are often influenced by the financial aspects of their care...