Outcome Evidence

• There are an estimated 8,100 urgent care locations (in 2018) and 2,805 retail clinic locations (in 2017) across the country. source & source
• A “workplace,” or “onsite clinic” is a setting where an employer offers one or more medical and wellness services, delivered by licensed providers, to all or a designated portion of its active population and other eligible individuals. Top reasons for employers to establish onsite clinics include reducing lost time from work/increased productivity, reduction of medical cost or health benefit spending, and improving employees access to care. source & source
• One-third of US employers with 5,000 or more employees offered general medical worksite clinics in 2017, up from 24% in 2012. While just 16% of organizations with 500-4,999 employees currently provide a general medical clinic, another 8% say they will add one by 2019. source
• A 2016 Deloitte study found that people are increasingly using “walk-in” clinics, like urgent and retail care, implying a burgeoning level of importance of these types of clinics in the eyes of consumers. source
• A 2018 JAMA study of those enrolled in Aetna plans between 2008 and 2015 found that ED visits for low-acuity conditions decreased 36% and non-ED sites like urgent cares had increased utilization of 140%.  Increasing number of clinics, familiarity and acceptance of urgent care centers as credible alternative venues for unscheduled care for acute conditions, the ability of urgent care centers to treat a wider range of conditions than retail clinics or telemedicine, greater convenience with shorter wait times than EDs, and lower out-of-pocket costs for consumers are all reasons for this possible trend. source
• In 2019, Walgreens announced it would close 150 health clinics by the end of the year, but it will keep open more than 200 that are run in partnership with health care providers. Executives addressed the cost cuts saying the savings are necessary to invest in modernizing the drugstore chain. source & source