Urgent Care Still on Fire

In a recent article, the NY Times restated a fact that we've know for awhile.  The urgent care healthcare segment continues to be Hot.  As noted by the author, Julie Creswell, "The business model is simple:  Treat many patients as quickly as possible."  From this simple approach, the industry has grown to an estimated $14.5 billion business and garnered the attention of commercial insurance companies, regional health systems, local hospitals.  And now..private equity firms.  In fact, PE investors are driving the growth these days.  Of course, expensive ER visits, limited office hours, the more insureds/less doctors conundrum may have contributed to the UC interest and clinic increase.  (~9000 US clinics)

Certainly, well-run platforms are appealing - wonder how many will evolve into a McDonald's type brand?  What do you think?

>>More food for thought:  Race Is On to Profit From Rise of Urgent Care

American CareSource Scores Again…

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil
June 12 - July 13, 2014

Not long after entering the "Urgent Care Game" with its acquisition of CorrectMed of Atlanta, American CareSource is making a pass at another clinic.  They're on the move with an agreement to purchase Bay Walk-in Clinic assets on Florida's panhandle.  Bay Walk-in Clinic is well-established in the Panama City area.  
In reference to the agreement, the American CareSource CEO said that this planned acquisition "...builds momentum for its move into the vibrant Urgent Care industry...”  A move...Dr. Richard W. Turner expects will be a WINNING one!   Read more

Urgent Care Chain Plans Expansion

PM Pediatrics is looking to expand…thanks to its recent investment from Scopio Capital Management.  The pediatric urgent care chain, founded in 2005, has 9 clinics located in greater New York and Northern New Jersey.   Co-founder Steven Katz suggested that 6-7 more offices could open by the end of 2014.  Click here for more information. 

Coming Soon: 10 for Premier

Premier Immediate Medical Care expects to benefit from the Affordable Care Act with an influx of newly insured patients.  Dr. Edward Silverman, owner of Premier, will be ready as he expands within his key market areas.  Currently, his 9 offices serve communities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware.  Winter and Spring will mark the opening of additional centers in the Philadelphia area (Plymouth Meeting - #10 and Villanova) with the convenient hours of "9 to 9".  >>Read more 

MD Now Urgent Care - 30 sites by 2015

Florida's busy urgent care provider, MD Now Urgent Care, is expanding…again.  With the opening of the eleventh location, it has become the largest independent non-hospital Urgent Care company in South Florida.

The company was established in 2004 and has grown rapidly offering residents of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties an alternative to a local crowded and costly hospital ER.  The recent opening of its Plantation, FL location fuels its growth plans.  According to MD Now CEO, Dr. Peter Lamelas, company plans include "upwards of 30 Urgent Care Centers throughout South Florida by 2015".

Read more about this growing urgent care provider.

More Regular Care = Urgent Care Growth

The urgent care industry is poised for more expansion driven by the Affordable Care Act, hospital closings, primary care doctor shortage, high Emergency Room costs.  Industry sources expect a steady flow of patients seeking regular care (vs. acute care) to flow into urgent care centers within the next 5 to 10 years.

Dr. Kenneth Palestrant, founder of Physicians Immediate Care in Florida, recognizes this trend.  Approximately, 20% of patients use his five centers to receive primary care.  With ACA implementation, Dr. Palestrant expects more hiring of nurse-practitioner and physician assistants in urgent care to address the gap in primary care.  >>Read more

Source:  MedCity News

How to Minimize Growing Pains

Michael Shafe, MD leads a growing urgent care business, The Urgency Room -  starting and expanding the business to 3 locations within six years.  While growing can be anxiety-ridden, Dr. Shafe reduced some stress by following a roadmap that would apply to other healthcare service businesses.  Check out his Expansion TOP TEN List:

1. Determine what went right and Repeat
2. Ensure business can be replicated
3. Keep locations legally separate
4. Do your research
5. Contract with payers early
6. Prepare financially
7. Hire early
8. Allow adequate time for hiring and training
9. Create a comprehensive Operations Manual
10. Market cost effectively

>>Read more

NextCare - Deeper in the Heart of Texas

Waco’s Central Texas Urgent Care is the latest acquisition by Mesa, AZ-based urgent care chain, NextCare – now operating 71 clinics in the East, West and Midwest. 

While staff at the two newly-acquired locations will remain the same, a new and different service will soon be available. WAHOO (Wait at Home or Office) is NextCare’s wait-at-home check-in service where patients can wait to be contacted for their exam.  

The Waco acquisition follows an October buying spree that added over 10 clinics, including one in Houston, to NextCare’s clinic total.  >>Read more 

NextCare on a Roll in Southwest

October was an outstanding month for NextCare Urgent Care, one of the nation’s largest privately-owned providers of urgent care.  With the acquisition of Access Medical Centers, 9 clinics located in Oklahoma and Texas were brought under the NextCare banner.  Facilities in the Phoenix and Houston areas were also part of last month’s buying spree.

CEO John Julian recently announced a significant recapitalization with BMO Capital Markets positioning NextCare for rapid and continued expansion.

NextCare now operates 69 offices in 7 states including Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia.

PIC & New Investors Eye Expansion

Urgent care chain, Physicians Immediate Care (PIC), is now better equipped to increase its Midwest presence thanks to new investors LLR Partners, Wellpoint and former Walgreen's executive, Stanley Blaylock.  
Investor and new PIC President & CEO, Mr. Blaylock, expects the chain to grow from its current 20 clinics to over 100 in the next six years --- notably in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.  Dr. John Koehler, one of the founders of PIC, will remain with the company as shareholder and Chief Medical Officer.  He and the investors recognize the growth potential of urgent care and according to Dr. Koehler, it is in "the sweet spot of what needs to be done in terms of controlling costs and increasing [insurance] access." >>Read more