Urgent Care Awareness Month Highlights Urgent Care’s Vital Role in Healthcare Landscape
May 13, 2015 Clayton, NC – FastMed Urgent Care is recognizing May as National Urgent Care Awareness Month, encouraging communities to learn more about how urgent care can benefit their health and lives. FastMed is the fastest-growing urgent care network in the U.S., and the largest urgent care network in Arizona and North Carolina, with over 900% growth between 2011 and early 2015. FastMed employs 690 clinicians and staff in 52 locations in North Carolina, and 412 employees in 35 locations in Arizona.
The Urgent Care Association of America (“UCAOA”) created National Urgent Care Awareness Month to celebrate the exceptional contribution of urgent care clinicians and professionals and to bring awareness to the important role urgent cares play in community health care.
“National Urgent Care Awareness Month recognizes the important roll FastMed Urgent Care centers have in providing quality, affordable and personal family care,” said Kevin Blank, Chief Executive Officer of FastMed Urgent Care. “When you or someone in your family has a common illness, a non-life threatening injury or one of many other medical needs, FastMed centers ensure you have access 365 days a year to walk-in treatment. All of our facilities have digital x-ray and laboratory services and are staffed with qualified providers and medical professionals.”
National Urgent Care Awareness Month recognizes the growth in the urgent care industry across the U.S. and the value of urgent care for a wide variety of common medical needs. Urgent care centers like FastMed help alleviate overcrowding in emergency rooms and help support primary care and specialists, providing patients with additional options for convenient, high-quality and affordable health care in their neighborhood. FastMed works hard to coordinate care with other health professionals in our communities as well. FastMed is on pace to treat over one million patients in 2015.
Patients increasingly desire more flexibility from their healthcare providers and want convenient, affordable, high-quality treatment during the evenings and weekends, hours that work best for their schedules. Episodic illness or injury may demand medical attention at a time when a primary care provider cannot fit the patient in for a visit; urgent care serves that walk-in need.
“We want to ensure awareness throughout communities in Arizona and North Carolina of the increasing number of local options for non-emergent medical situations requiring prompt attention,” said Kyle Bohannon, President of FastMed. “While urgent care will never serve as a substitute for a primary care doctor providing ongoing care, nor replace the Emergency Room in treating life-threatening episodes, urgent care centers bridge the gap between these options and provide treatment when alternative care settings are not available, convenient or affordable. FastMed has also developed workers compensation and drug testing services for employers.”
About FastMed Urgent Care Clinics:
FastMed Urgent Care clinics provide local communities with convenient, walk-in access 365 days a year to treatment services, including:
- Colds, Flu and Viral Illnesses
- Bronchitis, Pneumonia and Respiratory Illness
- Asthma, Allergic Reactions and Dermatologic / Acne evaluations
- Sprains and Strains
- Fracture Evaluation (Digital X-rays)
- Cuts, Scrapes and Burns
- Stitches and Minor Surgery
- School, Sports and Camp Physicals
- Immunizations and Vaccinations (including flu shots)
- Labs and Rapid Testing for Urinary Tract Infections (“UTI”), Strep Throat, Pregnancy and the Flu
- EKGs and IV treatment
FastMed clinics offer businesses of all sizes occupational health care services, including:
- Medical Evaluations and Screenings including Department of Transportation (“DOT”) Physicals and Commercial Driver’s License (“CDL”) Physical Exams from FMCSA certified providers
- Drug and Alcohol Screening
- Injury Care and Workers’ Compensation
FastMed utilizes an industry leading electronic medical record (“EMR”) system and digital x-ray technology that can be accessed from any FastMed location across the country. FastMed Urgent Care centers accept all major insurance plans and offer direct-pay patients the option of FastMed’s Savings Plan.
FastMed Urgent Care clinics hold The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for accreditation in compliance with the Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in ambulatory health care. The Joint Commission compliance standards of care include: clinical systems billing and adjudication, electronic medical records health screening procedures, immunization processes, patient discharge and customer service.
About FastMed Urgent Care:
FastMed Urgent Care is an owner and operator of urgent care facilities with locations throughout North Carolina and Arizona. FastMed focuses on the delivery of non-appointment based medicine to the non-emergency patient market. The urgent care centers are open 365 days a year and are staffed with experienced and licensed physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. FastMed clinics hold The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for accreditation in compliance with the Joint Commission national standards for health care quality and safety in ambulatory health care. For more information, please visit www.fastmed.com. FastMed is managed by an affiliated entity of one of the investment funds of the Comvest Group.
About the Urgent Care Association of America:
The Urgent Care Association of America (“UCAOA”) is a membership association for urgent care health and management professionals, clinics and those who support the urgent care industry. UCAOA provides educational programs in clinical care and practice management, has a monthly Journal of Urgent Care Medicine and maintains an active online presence and member community for daily exchange of best practices. UCAOA provides leadership, education and resources for the successful practice of urgent care for its members. For more information, please visit www.ucaoa.org.
About the Comvest Group:
The Comvest Group, with $1.2 billion of assets under management, provides flexible financing solutions to lower middle-market companies through its equity and debt funds, often meeting time-critical and complex funding requirements. The firm includes seasoned, senior level operating executives who partner with managers and owners of companies to operationally improve businesses and create long-term value. Since 2000, Comvest has invested more than $1.5 billion of capital in over 105 public and private companies. For more information, please visit www.comvest.com.
Contact:
Reuel Heyden
Sr. Dir. of Communications | Marketing
FastMed Urgent Care
Phone: 919.550.0821×1016
Email: r.heyden@fastmed.com