Urgent care is one of the fast-growing sectors of the U.S. healthcare industry.
As of June 2026, there were 25,520 urgent care centers in United States, according to Poidata.io, which provides up-to-date business data to help companies make informed decisions and drive growth.
“This rise has been partly driven by the decline of primary care,” says Dr. Corey Alvarez, lead medical director for Health First emergency departments. “Patients are struggling to find doctors and to be seen quickly.”
Urgent care centers are not the only option for patients. Traditional emergency rooms are also widely available. But it can be difficult for patients to know where they should go when they need medical help.
“Training [is one difference],” says Dr. Alvarez. “Emergency room staff often includes ER-certified physicians in addition to other highly trained personnel.”
Mayo Clinic says that ERs are staffed 24/7 with physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses trained in delivering emergency care.
“Most urgent care centers rely on nurse practitioners,” says Dr. Alvarez.
Again, Mayo Clinic concurs, stating that typically, urgent care clinics are staffed with physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses.
“Some centers are hospital-owned, and some are owned by [for profit] businesses,” says Dr. Alvarez. “Do the ones that are hospital-affiliated use the services of hospital-trained staff in the urgent care center? Are doctors available?
“These are questions you have to ask yourself when deciding where to take your loved one or yourself for treatment.”
LegalClarity.org, a source for legal news and analysis, says that urgent care centers are now operated by a wide range of owners – including independent physicians, hospital systems, private equity firms, franchise operators, and, increasingly, nurse practitioners.
Harvard Health says an urgent care center can be the right place if you need prompt treatment for a non-life-threatening problem.
At an urgent care center, you can typically get basic lab tests, X-rays, prescriptions and referrals. Waiting times tend to be shorter than at ERs.
Urgent care is a good choice for treatment of
- A minor cut, burn or sprain
- Cold, flu or COVID-like symptoms
- Ear pain, sore throat or sinus pain
- Possible fracture when the bone isn’t sticking out
- Mild asthma symptoms or wheezing
- Rash or mild allergic reaction
- Urinary symptoms
- Fever if you’re otherwise healthy and alert
Although urgent care centers don’t normally treat people with chronic health problems, they can serve as a sort of bridge to regular medical treatment.
For example, a patient may run out of blood pressure medication over the weekend or have a flare-up of a longstanding condition that requires treatment before an appointment is available.
“If they deem it necessary, an urgent care center staff member will refer a patient to an ER or – if necessary – call EMS,” says Dr. Alvarez. “Quality and good care is a collaboration between all medical providers.
“For most visits to an urgent care center, hospital records aren’t necessary,” he says. “Pertinent information regarding the reason for the visit can usually be obtained from the patient or person accompanying them.”
The American College of Emergency Physicians, says adults should go to an ER for:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure that lasts two minutes or more
- Changes in vision or difficulty speaking
- Sudden weakness, dizziness or loss of balance, which could be signs of stroke
- Choking
- Head or spine injury
- Injury due to a serious motor vehicle accident, burns or smoke inhalation, near drowning, deep or large wound or other serious injuries
- Ingestion of a poisonous substance
- Confusion or changes in mental status, unusual behavior or difficulty waking
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
“In addition to be equipped to handle more complicated cases and those requiring advanced testing, ERs are open 24/7 and on holidays,” says Dr. Alvarez.
“Older adults and anyone with a complex medical history should be cautious about relying on urgent care and err more toward primary care or the ER,” says Dr. Douglas Rappaport, an emergency medicine physician at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.
“There’s one thing that’s identical about the staff at emergency rooms and urgent care centers – they work very hard and see a huge number of patients every day,” says Dr. Alvarez. “A simple ‘thank you’ on your way out will go a long way towards brightening up their day.”
Corey L. Alvarez, M.D., received a BS in microbiology and cell sciences from University of Florida and a MD degree from Ross University, School of Medicine. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at Central Michigan University. He is lead medical director for Health First emergency departments. He is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.
