UNC Health has announced plans to open a series of freestanding facilities that will combine emergency departments and urgent care clinics in North Carolina. The initiative is designed to improve access to immediate medical care and lower costs for patients by directing them efficiently to the appropriate level of care.
The health system intends to submit plans for Certificate of Need review starting in August, with initial locations proposed for Raleigh and Apex in Wake County. Additional sites are expected as part of future expansion.
Each center will house both a full-service emergency department and an urgent care clinic, supported by on-site laboratory equipment and radiology services such as X-ray and CT scanning. This approach follows similar models that have been implemented in states like Florida, Texas, Kentucky, with planned expansions into South Carolina and Virginia.
UNC Health is partnering with Intuitive Health, a Dallas-based company specializing in hybrid emergency and urgent care facilities. According to Dr. Cristy Page, interim CEO of UNC Health, “This partnership represents a significant advancement in our mission to enhance the health and well-being of all North Carolinians. These state-of-the-art facilities will complement the care already delivered through our hospitals and clinics statewide, reduce unnecessary emergency visits, and improve the overall patient experience.”
The model addresses the issue of overuse of hospital emergency departments by patients who could be treated at urgent care centers—a trend seen across the United States. Patients arriving at these new centers will be assessed by board-certified emergency physicians who determine whether they require emergency or urgent care services.
UNC Health encourages patients to continue using primary care providers for non-urgent issues but notes that those visiting the new centers will be referred back to primary care practices for follow-up when necessary. If inpatient treatment is needed, patients will be admitted to a UNC Health hospital.
Thom Herrmann, CEO of Intuitive Health, stated: “By combining urgent care with emergency services under one roof, UNC Health and Intuitive Health are providing a more convenient, more efficient model of care that meets patients where they are. Patients no longer need to choose between ER and urgent care, they can come to a single location and get excellent care, in a highly efficient environment, while only paying for the level of care that they actually need.”
UNC Health operates 20 hospitals and over 900 clinics across North Carolina as part of its mission tied closely with the University of North Carolina system. Over the past five years it has provided more than $800 million in uncompensated charity care.
For further details about UNC Health’s services or this initiative visit https://unchealth.org/.
