Fueled by frustration over long waits in the emergency room for non-emergency care, and a reduction in available primary care appointments that often means patients wait weeks to see their doctor, a new growth spurt for the urgent care industry began in the mid-1990s and continues, according to a report by the American Academy of Urgent Care.
Since 2008, the number of facilities across the country has increased from 8,000 to 9,300, the report said.
AtlantiCare offers 10 urgent care locations around South Jersey, while Shore Medical Center has three locations. In July, Inspira Health Network opened an urgent care facility on West Landis Avenue in Vineland. The facility is Inspira’s first in Cumberland County.
Urgent care facilities provide care for a variety of ailments, including sports injuries, flu, respiratory infections, minor lacerations, fractures and sprains, and many other general illnesses and injuries.