Urgent care centers are playing an increasingly large role in health care delivery. These facilities are generally open seven days a week, offer walk in services, and are often open after hours. Nationally, there are more than 7,000 urgent care centers providing services to more than 300 people every week on average. In New York City, the largest provider of urgent care is CityMD, led by Chief Executive Officer Richard Park, MD.
On June 30, Dr. Park attended the Primary Care Development Corporation’s (PCDC) Leadership Advisory Council’s breakfast meeting for a conversation moderated by PCDC CEO Louise Cohen, MPH and Rick Zall, Partner at Proskauer Rose, LLP and Chair of the Leadership Advisory Committee. Dr. Park discussed urgent care and its role within the larger primary care delivery system.
Dr. Park described his philosophy that effective urgent care requires a strong, bi-directional connection with all levels of the health care continuum, utilizing “warm handoffs” that ensure patients get the care they need in the most appropriate setting. CityMD does not seek to replace conventional primary care or the emergency room, rather, provides a middle ground for low acuity emergencies and treatment of non-chronic conditions. However, among his patient population, 40 percent do not have a primary physician or cannot see theirs in a timely manner.
PCDC convenes its Leadership Advisory Council, consisting of industry executives, twice annually in an intimate off-the-record forum to discuss topics relevant to primary care. The Council members draw on their extensive corporate experience to proliferate best practices and key learnings. For more information on the Leadership Advisory Council and membership, see here.