Florida-based hospital network, UF Health has embarked on a fresh approach to patient care. In collaboration with private equity-supported company, Intuitive Health, they have launched three hybrid centers providing both emergency and urgent care services round the clock. This initiative is designed to simplify patients’ decision-making process on the appropriate healthcare facility to visit.
Simplified Making the Right Choice
Often, patients grapple with determining where to seek medical attention – an emergency room (ER) or urgent care center. Such a decision may have significant financial implications. At UF Health’s hybrid centers, medical professionals assess whether patients require urgent or emergency care and bill accordingly. Surprisingly, about 70% of patient cases are billed at urgent care rates, says Steven Wylie, associate vice president for planning and business development at UF Health Jacksonville.
Emergency care tends to be pricier than urgent care. Hence, patients requiring treatment for issues that can be handled at an urgent care facility, such as minor lacerations or treatable infections, could save hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Hybrid Model Worries Consumer Advocates
Although there are no documented studies on this novel hybrid model, consumer advocates express their concerns. They worry that hospitals may be inclined to direct patients towards more expensive ER-level care. For instance, certain services like blood tests and ultrasounds, which typically incite higher-cost, ER-level bills at UF Health centres, can be administered at an urgent care center.
The Potential Profit Upswing for UF Health
For UF Health, the hybrid centers can prove profitable as they appeal to more patients. More patient visits translate to increased revenue from diagnostic testing as well as referrals to specialists or inpatient care. Furthermore, the 24/7 availability of affordable urgent care services distinctively positions these hybrid centers amidst an industry plagued with aggressive billing tendencies.
A Look Inside UF Health’s Hybrid Centres
At the hybrid facilities, emergency room specialists decide whether to bill for higher-priced ER care or lower-priced urgent care following a medical screening. They do this by matching required care against certain criteria that necessitate emergency-level care and billing. Such criteria include the need for IV fluids or cardiac monitoring.
At these centers, UF Health has signs displaying some of the urgent care services offered, for instance, treatment for ear infections, sprains, and minor wounds. When it’s determined that a patient requires ER-level care, they must sign a form acknowledging they will be billed for an ER visit.
Taking into consideration the Patients
For individuals without insurance, UF hybrid centers charge them a $250 ‘all-inclusive’ fee for urgent care. However, insured patients might bear higher out-of-pocket expenses if their health plan is charged more than what it would typically pay for stand-alone urgent care. Also, it’s crucial to remember that the federal surprise billing protections that safeguard patients in ERs do not extend to urgent care centers.
Addressing the Blurred Line between Emergency and Urgent Care
Historically, ERs were for life-threatening conditions, while urgent care clinics have catered to minor injuries and illnesses. However, over recent years, these two models have blurred their lines. Hospitals publicly advertise ER wait times to attract patients while urgent care clinics have broadened the scope of conditions they treat.
UF Health is one of about a dozen health systems partnering with Intuitive Health in 10 different states to build and operate hybrid ER-urgent care facilities. With a dozen partners already, and more anticipated to join, this novel approach to healthcare appears to have a promising future.