SCRATCH

Just What the (Urgent Care) Doctor Ordered

Image

Urgent care centers are on every corner: “You’re never more than three minutes away from pizza, a deli or a doctor willing to help.”

By Julia Rothman and Shaina Feinberg

Julia is an illustrator. Shaina is a writer and filmmaker.

Nov. 17, 2023

If you live in the United States, you’ve most likely experienced the glacial pace of getting medical treatment. It can take weeks to see a primary care doctor, and an emergency room visit can set you back many hours.

But why is it so slow? Doctors are treating more patients than they did previously, says Dr. Ari Friedman, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. With primary care doctors overburdened, navigating the current health care system can feel overwhelming for patients. That’s one reason urgent care centers are on the rise.

Image

With an array of names like ModernMD, WellNow, MedRite, CityMD and CareNow, urgent care centers have popped up all over the country – from street corners to strip malls – making them convenient and accessible.