Q&A
Discussion on 24/7 operation of urgent care centers and impact on emergency department visits
1:15:03
·
75 sec
Council Member Schulman inquires about the prevalence of 24/7 urgent care centers and their potential impact on emergency department visits. Dr. Morse provides limited information and emphasizes the differences between urgent care and emergency departments.
- The Health Department will follow up with data on the number of 24/7 urgent care centers
- Urgent care centers are not considered replacements for emergency departments
- The effects of hospital closures on patient care-seeking behavior are unpredictable
Lynn Schulman
1:15:03
Most urgent care centers because the I'm sorry.
1:15:05
Let me go back for a second.
1:15:06
The reason I'm asking that is because it's better to have them be part of h and h ultimately as opposed to an urgent care center where you don't know where they're gonna go, and they're gonna just wind up maybe in the ED or something else.
1:15:20
So most urgent care centers do not run 247 while most are open on weekends.
1:15:29
They are often closed at night.
1:15:30
Obviously medical needs to not needs to not suddenly disappear to only return during the hours of an urgent care's operation.
1:15:38
Do you have any specific data on the number of urgent care centers that are run 247?
1:15:42
And do you think that increasing this number would have a measurable impact on the number of visits to emergency departments or hospitals across the city?
Dr. Michelle Morse
1:15:53
We can share and follow-up the data we have about the number of urgent cares that are 247 versus not, so we can get back to you with that information.
1:16:02
But in general, urgent cares are not a replacement for emergency departments.
1:16:07
And again, you know, the ripple effects of any hospital closures are somewhat unpredictable, but again, are clearly that the people in the community that are using that hospital will have to seek care else.
1:16:17
Swear.
