The Urgent Care Association of America: Toward a Better Healthcare System

Founded in 2004, the Urgent Care Association of America (UCAOA) is a trade association in the United States for providers of urgent care (UC). Urgent care provides what is known as ambulatory care in an environment outside of a normal medical center, such as an emergency room. The UCAOA distinguishes it as care used to treat injury or illness on a walk-in basis, but not serious enough to warrant emergency room visits. This ultimately helps decrease congestion in emergency rooms that exist for immediate, vital health problems. UC providers in the United States must receive accreditation from the UCAOA. Centers can now become accredited through the membership association since new regulations were employed in 2009. Centers often employ medical staff and researchers who have been published in the Journal of Urgent Care Medicine. Each year, the UCAOA invites all levels of care providers to annual meetings and conventions to showcase the latest on the industry, industry practices, best practices, lessons learned, rules and regulations on accreditation, lectures, and presentations. Everyone needs this type of care, but there is a special niche by providers to treat children and adolescents. Minors may need services based on illness and injury, on site digital x-rays, and on side laboratory services. For those seeking illness and injury services, many centers around the nation offer care for laceration closures, vomiting and diarrhea, fever, colds, sinus infections, dehydration, and procedures that may require sedation. There are many other treatments available to people of all ages depending on the centers resources in their respective areas. Other centers offer x-ray services that can digitally enhance x-rays, take high-resolution images of various areas, and can even send these to designated doctors in the state or region. Lab services generally provide blood, urine, hair, or other chemistry analysis as well as diagnostic tests. Those seeking specific treatments or specific care should do an internet search for the types offered in their local community or city. This is particularly important for those who have recently relocated to a new area and who might also have children or adolescents living with them. Overall, these clinics are designed to treat anyone in dire need of care while diverting increased traffic to emergency rooms. As waits in emergency rooms can be long, diverting a group or population with slightly less of a medical need makes the overall healthcare system in the United States more efficient. Those seeking immediate help should always be aware of the various care centers in their neighborhood or city and utilize the appropriate facility in order to cut back on wait times and costs for everyone.