Assignment Task:
Summary:
UCCs offer patients an alternative to using the hospital ED, which is expensive. They are open for extended hours, although not 24/7 (the way EDs work), and thus serve the "access" angle of the iron triangle. They are clearly less costly and may also not interfere with a patient's existing relationships with their own PCP. Critics suggest they do little to address the fragmentation of care and may actually add to the problem. They may also not be linked to the patient's PCP, which poses an issue of care coordination. Finally, there is some evidence that UCCs locate in more affluent areas with insured patients and may not reduce unnecessary use of the ED.
Questions: Are there any downsides to the growth of UCCs? So, overall, are UCCs cost-saving or costly?