Analyzing Ramifications of Increasing Urgent Care Clinics: Report

This report investigates the consequences of the growing number of urgent care clinics within the healthcare sector. It begins with an introduction that outlines the research's background, aim, objectives, and questions, establishing the rationale for the study. The literature review explores the role of urgent care in healthcare, the need for these clinics due to patient pressure, and the potential ramifications of their increase. The methodology chapter details the research design, approach, data collection, sampling, and analysis methods, including ethical considerations and a Gantt chart for the timeline. The data analysis chapter presents questionnaire findings and their interpretation. The discussion chapter offers an in-depth analysis of the findings, followed by conclusions and recommendations. The research aims to identify the basic understanding of urgent care, evaluate the need for clinics, analyze their ramifications, and examine the role of healthcare professionals in promoting them. The report concludes with a comprehensive analysis of the benefits and challenges associated with the expansion of urgent care clinics.

The Ramifications of Increasing
Numbers of Urgent Care Clinics
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................1

Overview of the research........................................................................................................1
Background of the research....................................................................................................2
Research aim..........................................................................................................................3
Research objectives................................................................................................................3
Research questions.................................................................................................................3
Rationale of the research........................................................................................................3
Chapter 2: Literature Review...........................................................................................................4
The basic understanding of urgent care in healthcare sector..................................................4
The need of urgent care clinics due to increased pressure of patients....................................5
The ramifications of increased number of urgent care clinics...............................................7
The ways to examine the role of care professionals for encouraging urgent care homes for
welfare of citizens...................................................................................................................8
Chapter 3: Research Methodology.................................................................................................10
Types of investigation..........................................................................................................10
Research design....................................................................................................................10
Research approach................................................................................................................11
Research philosophy.............................................................................................................11
Data collection methods.......................................................................................................11
Sampling methods................................................................................................................12
Data analysis.........................................................................................................................12
Time scale (Gantt chart).......................................................................................................13
Ethical considerations...........................................................................................................14
Chapter 4: Data Analysis...............................................................................................................14
Questionnaire........................................................................................................................14
Data interpretation and findings...........................................................................................21
Chapter 5: Discussion....................................................................................................................36
Chapter 6: Conclusion and Recommendations..............................................................................38
References......................................................................................................................................39
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................41
Questionnaire........................................................................................................................41

Chapter 1: Introduction
Overview of the research
Urgent care clinics refers to care homes comes in category of walk-in clinic that focus on
delivery of ambulatory care in dedicated medical facility. The urgent care clinics play an
important role in healthcare sector by managing emergency cases to improve health condition of
people. It includes the criterion of establishing urgent care services outside and inside the
hospitals so that urgent care can be provided to needy people along with avoiding complications.
Basically, the urgent care clinics are helpful to have well skills, knowledgeable and trained staffs
that is capable to make immediate and accurate decisions of treatment (Kaufman and et. al.,
2016). It will provide support to make quick delivery of emergency facilities possible which
helps to improve patient condition. It is observed that separate urgent clinics are helpful to
reduce the extra pressure of other hospitals of specialised care which develop challenges for
them to deal with every contingency situation effectively, separate units of urgent care is
favourable to reduce the additional burden of emergency patients and people will get immediate
care as well as support to become disease free. However, it has been analysed that urgent care
requires quick clinical action to save an individual for which urgent care clinics are suitable to
boost up possibilities of wellness of patients. It is observed that urgent clinics provide support to
reduce the death rates following emergency clinic situation which can be overcome effectively.
Moreover, it is beneficial to enhance number of urgent care clinics at different locations in the
country so that people will get desired medical facility immediately.
On the other hand, it has been analysed that increased in urgent care clinics impact positively on
strength of healthcare system which can deal with emergency situations in more effective
manner. It is also required to focus on that every locality and geographical area should have at
least one urgent acre home so that nearby people can easily gains medical facilities (Gummin
and et. al., 2018, 2017). Meanwhile, it has been evaluated that most of the emergency cases of
patients leads to death due to long distance between their residential area and care home. It is
necessary to reduce the distance which is required to cover to reach the emergency clinics so that
they will get desired care services on time in terms of saving their lives. It is observed that many
of places were exist where people have to cover much distance by road to reach urgent care
home which is responsible for developing the condition of increased death rates. If urgent care
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clinics will be available at every local area including towns, cities and districts with sufficient
amount of staff members and other resources in order to deliver appropriate treatment. However,
it has been analysed that effective clinical procedures and practices is required to be available to
deliver treatment as well as medication in contingency situations for facilitating recovery of
patient to make them disease free (Simms and et. al., 2018). The availability of urgent care
clinics can be considered as beneficial approach when these care homes have proper employees
and resources so that very patient will get desired treatment in more effective as well as efficient
manner. It will provide support to reduce extra work pressure of other healthcare organisations
and increase their focus which is distracted by emergency situations to deliver appropriate care
for welfare of people.
Background of the research
In context of this investigation, it is based on the research aim to analyse the ramifications due to
increased number of urgent care clinics in healthcare sector. It includes the fact that availability
of sufficient emergency care centres are helpful in terms of increases the strength of entire
healthcare sector of the country. It becomes capable to deal with extreme complicated and
emergency medical condition effectively. Meanwhile, this project will focus on number of
research objectives to address the respective requirements which facilitate to gain accurate
findings. Initially, it will explain about the basic understanding about the urgent care in
healthcare sector. It includes the urgent care clinics are necessary to deal with emergency
medical situations in more effective as well as efficient manner to improve health status of
citizens. Secondly, it will also include the discussion related to the evaluation of need of urgent
care clinics due to increased pressure of patients. It consist the actual requirement of urgent care
clinics to reduce death rates due to contingency clinical circumstances (Rumsfeld, Joynt and
Maddox, 2016). Thirdly, the analysis in related to ramifications of increased number of urgent
care clinics is described here. It involves the positive impact of increased urgent care clinics
which helps to treat patients acquired contingency situations for making them medically stable
and comfortable. However, the examination of the roles played by care professionals in order to
encourage urgent care homes for welfare of citizens. It includes the role of medical practitioners
to appeal from higher authorities of healthcare sector to communicate with government for
ensure availability of urgent clinical centres for improve health condition of population.
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Research aim
“To analyse the ramifications due to increased number of urgent care clinics in
healthcare sector.”
Research objectives
To identify the basic understanding of urgent care in healthcare sector.
To evaluate need of urgent care clinics due to increased pressure of patients.
To analyse the ramifications of increased number of urgent care clinics.
To examine the role of care professionals for encouraging urgent care homes for welfare
of citizens.
Research questions
 How to identify the basic understanding of urgent care in healthcare sector?
 What is the need of urgent care clinics due to increased pressure of patients?
 How to analyse the ramifications of increased number of urgent care clinics?
 What are the ways to examine the role of care professionals for encouraging urgent care
homes for welfare of citizens?
Rationale of the research
This investigation has a rationale to identify the actual need of urgent care clinic which helps to
prepare plan to build desired care homes to perform in emergency situations. It includes the
significant to understand about different aspects related to establishing urgent care clinics to
provide its benefits to every citizens of the nation. It has been analysed that desired need of
urgent care clinics is required to be studied so that they can be organised in order to deliver better
care facilities (Su and et. al., 2016). This study is important to understand about those
geographical areas of the country in which urgent care clinics are required in terms of
establishing the, in appropriate manner. It is necessary to make emergency services available in
desired places with sufficient amount of medical staff and other resources which facilitate to
provide immediate care for wellbeing of patients. However, it is observed that study of urgent
care clinics is significant to understand about reduction among death rates related to urgent care
needs of people. It includes the criterion of deliver more effective facilities in contingency
situations in respect of providing needy treatment for making people disease free. Moreover, it is
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beneficial to organise urgent care clinics properly by covering all the places for making easy
access of citizens regarding urgent care services.
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Literature reviews can be defined as to summarise the previous research article in comprehensive
manner. It includes analysing different views and opinions of various authors who had already
carried out research in similar topic. Basically, it has been evaluated that secondary sources were
required to be reviewed such as books, articles, and journals etc. that were based on similar
research problem (Frow, McColl-Kennedy and Payne, 2016). However, the literature review is
favourable to address the research objectives and questions by collecting relevant data which
facilitate to achieve accurate findings respectively. Moreover, it includes the review that should
enumerate, describe, summarise, objectively evaluate and clarify the previous investigation.
The basic understanding of urgent care in healthcare sector
Urgent care clinics can be defined as specific care homes which have a role to effectively deal
with emergency situations. As per views given by Bailey and et. al. (2016), it includes the
criterion of developing separate healthcare institutions with well experienced and trained medical
staff to make immediate decision according to contingency for deliver appropriate treatment. It
includes the quick delivery of medical facilities which provide support to effectively manage
urgent situations to improve health condition of an individual. It is necessary to make them stable
and comfortable by quick decision of medication. However, it has been analysed that emergency
clinical circumstances is responsible for developing complications which needs immediate
treatment for wellbeing of patient it is necessary for government to make sure that every specific
city or town should have such clinics so that problem of travelling long distance to gain
treatment can be solved. It consist the urgent care clinics are favourable in several situations like
when there is a need of doctors attention over the weekend and doctor office is closed. Urgent
care clinics are those facilities which are remain available for people when other healthcare
centres or doctors were not available due to some of reason.
On the other hand, it has been analysed that there many of times when family doctors and nearby
hospital services were not available and patient need immediate then urgent care clinics support
them. It includes their criterion of dealing with emergency situations to provide treatment when
needed which helps people to avoid complicated conditions. It is necessary to make an individual
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capable to search for healthcare facilities if other medical centres were not available then people
can get desired medication in proper manner. According to the views of Incze, Redberg and Katz
(2018), there are different types of emergency clinical circumstances which are responsible for
develop challenges for people to gain appropriate care services. However, urgent care services
have a goal to provide medical support to individuals in different situations to improve the health
status of patient. It has been examined that many of chronic illnesses may acquire severe
condition and doctors were not available then urgent care clinics are favourable to improve the
condition of people. The urgent care focuses on emergency clinical situation of patient and
makes quick decision by examining their condition in respect if providing effective treatment to
improve their health. It will facilitate to improve the condition of entire population properly and
they have option to choose for treatment in contingency situations for gaining better outcomes.
In addition to this, it includes the fact that concept of urgent care clinics is helpful to provide
support to population to have medical services available for 24*7. It includes making medical
services and treatment available for people so that lack of medication or delayed medication will
not become reason for death of an individual. According to the views of Miller and Babiarz
2016), the urgent care clinics are favourable to make people capable to gain treatment effectively
in order to reduce the death rate in the country. However, it has been analysed that urgent care
clinics is favourable for reducing the chance of occurring complications and relevant mortality
rates among people. It is suitable for maintain the entire health condition of population that
impact positively on overall development of the nation. Meanwhile, the urgent care includes the
benefits of improving health condition and remove fear of complications among people. It
includes that effective health condition of maintenance by reducing number of problems faced by
citizens while seeking for clinical care to overcome the health problem. Moreover, it will
facilitate to enhance overall health status of people that is suitable for development.
The need of urgent care clinics due to increased pressure of patients
The healthcare sector is required to focus on establishment of urgent care clinics to enhance the
strength of the same. as mentioned by Janković and et. al. (2018), it includes the fact that urgent
care clinics are specific and necessary need of healthcare system of the country to improve its
efficiency for deliver effective facilities for better health of people. Basically, it is observed that
healthcare system of the nation can strengthen itself for making availability of emergency care
homes at different locations which is easily provide care facilities to people. It is very important
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to make easy access for citizens to gain desired medical facilities and services when needed to
become disease free. However, it has been identified that people face difficulty to have just an
appointment with doctors due to which they have to pay extra fees or wait for long duration. This
challenge becomes very much critical sometimes because few of patients acquire severe
condition which is difficult to be deal with and doctors have to effort more to improve health
status of an individual. The urgent care clinics are favourable to reduce waiting time of patients
and deliver effective treatment for wellness of them. However, the urgent care clinics are needed
because of different aspects in which some of them are explained here.
Initially, the urgent care clinics are required because of providing convenient for people as they
get services easily without waiting much. Erhard and et. al. (2018) states that it is favourable for
them to comfortable visit urgent care homes in order to gain treatment related to their specific
health problem. Meanwhile, this convenient deliver of medical services is favourable for people
to remain tension free regard to their health condition and make them capable to maintain their
healthy condition effectively. It includes their ability to gain medication in more effective as well
as efficient manner which helps to avoid complicated circumstances. However, the availability of
immediate medical facilities and treatment is possible by urgent care homes that facilitate to
reduce complicated cases in the country. It is observed that emergency care centres are also
helpful to decrease death rates among citizens due to complicated conditions and severe health
problems because these situations can be healed by quick as well as accurate efforts of staff
working in urgent care. Moreover, the urgent acre homes should be available in every local area
for solving severe health issues occurs between people to improve their health.
Villaseñor and Krouse (2016) states that the urgent care clinics are required due to extra pressure
of patients due to which other healthcare organisations cannot deal with them. It includes extra
burden of work due to which medical practitioners were not capable to perform in emergency
situation effectively which develop complications many times. However, the urgent care centre
has specialised staff to deal with urgent or emergency situations so that they have special skills &
knowledge for the same. It will provide support to deliver better quality of care facilities for
improving health of people in contingency circumstances. Hence, it is observed that urgent care
clinics are needed in order to increase quality of care that helps to improve health of people.
The healthcare system is not considered as effective due to having advanced technology,
resources, staff and other sources. It is proved to be effective as well as efficient when it is able
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to provide easy access to emergency services for welfare of people. However, the availability of
advanced facilities is not known to be beneficial when they are not utilised by citizens for
maintaining their better health condition. Meanwhile, it has been analysed that urgent care clinics
are needed to make easy access to health services in contingency situations to gain desired
medication or treatment to heal with respective health problem which make them disease free
(Randall and et. al., 2017).
Considering the give needs in related to urgent care clinics are more appropriate for which
effective efforts are required to be pit by government to provide funds and pace to develop such
care homes. It includes the requirement of potential efforts of higher authorities of healthcare
sector to facilitate development of urgent care clinics in different geographical areas. it is
necessary to make sure that every small locality or town must have at least one emergency care
clinics for maintaining condition of people living there.
The ramifications of increased number of urgent care clinics
The increased number of urgent care clinics impact positively on strength of healthcare sector
which facilitate to deliver effective care facilities. As per opinion given by Scibetta and et. al.
(2016), it includes the support gathered by citizens for gaining easy and immediate care in
emergency situations to save their family member’s life. Meanwhile, it has been analysed that
more urgent care centres are favourable for people because they can get appointments easily and
waiting times is also reduced. It consist the benefit for people as it is more cost efficient in
several conditions such as facing non-life threatening injuries and illnesses. It is necessary for
making healthcare system of the country much capable to provide medical services that are
available in every locality and the services are required to be affordable. However, it has been
analysed that impact of increased urgent care homes are suitable to deliver better quality of
medical facilities as well as treatment at lower cost than others so that common man can be
afford them easily. The fees of services at urgent clinics are less than a hospital emergency room
and patient should not wait for a long duration of time. It will provide support to poor and middle
class facilities to get desired care facilities in effective manner. Moreover, the urgent care clinics
are responsible for providing immediate treatment at less cost which is helpful for welfare of
citizens living in the nation.
In addition to this, the urgent care clinics impact positively on hospital staff to reduce their work
pressure which helps for them to improve their focus to perform in more effective manner. It is
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observed that they can manage their work easily which helps to boost up their performance as
well as patient experience. According to Shonkoff (2016), the urgent care services are favourable
to provide different types of advantages in which some of them are mentioned here. Initially, it
facilitates to render space that is helpful to unclog the emergency rooms which facilitate to
manage patients separately to deliver immediate care and normal care. Secondly, it is helpful to
reduce the rush of hospitals because people are waiting outside the emergency rooms whereas
many other units can sole the same issue properly. The rush of patients to single department
develop problem for care professionals to deal with them due to which complications occur.
Thirdly, the another benefit is provide great doctors having advanced knowledge and well
experienced in urgent care homes that is supportive to deliver better quality of medical treatment.
However, it has been analysed that cost effective treatment is delivered by urgent care homes as
they offers physical therapy, check-ups etc. This will facilitate to save a huge amount of money
which can be further used for betterment of health system or providing free medical services to
poor people. The speed of proving accurate treatment by making correct decision is another
advantage of urgent care centres.
The urgent care clinics enhancement is beneficial in overall aspects if they will for formulated at
desired places with appropriate availability of staff and resources. As mentioned by Duffy
(2018), it will impact positively to improve strength of entire healthcare system, improve health
of population, contribute for country development etc. However, the benefits of urgent care
homes consist that it has better hours as compared to family doctors. It is observed that urgent
care is helpful to save money of poor people who can use the secured funds to make their lives
better. It involves the fact that urgent acre clinics are accountable to offer quicker facility as
compared to emergency room (ER) that many even be faster than office of family doctors. It is
not necessary for citizens to have an appointment for gaining medical care which is very
effective to reduce complications in chronic conditions acquired by people. Urgent care clinics
are much capable in order to treat more severe health issue and illnesses as people can think.
The ways to examine the role of care professionals for encouraging urgent care homes for
welfare of citizens
Healthcare professionals play an important role for improving efficiency of health system in
order to provide better care. It includes their efforts to increase awareness among people to take
precautions for avoiding disease. They are capable to make them knowledgeable about different
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heath departments to visit in specific health problem. However, the healthcare professionals are
responsible for encouraging development of urgent care clinics in the country. They can
communicate the need of urgent care clinics in front of higher authorities of health sector
government by explaining the forthcoming problems. Worster and Swartz (2017), states that it is
necessary for medical practitioners to collectively support decision of establishing urgent care
homes in different geographical areas through which medical services can be easily accessed by
local people. There are various types of healthcare professionals such as doctors, nursing staff,
social workers, occupational therapists & physiotherapists, psychologists, bereavement
counsellors, paramedics, pastoral care workers, pharmacists, volunteers, dieticians, speech
pathologist, music therapists and so on. These all are required to perform collaboratively for
making availability of appropriate urgent care homes in differences cities and places of the
country. They can encourage government by approaching through potential need of urgent care
clinics that is favourable to improve health status of entire population. The role of senior
healthcare specialist is to provide effective training to interns and newly graduates to prefer
urgent care as their specialisation. It is beneficial to gain sufficient staff members of these clinics
to deliver appropriate care facilities. Moreover, they have a role to manage the medical students
and interns to maintain enough staff in hospital care and urgent care that helps to improve their
qualities.
In addition to this, the healthcare professionals have a role to encourage establishment of urgent
care clinics by proposing effective plan regarding location of them. As per views of Foster and
et. al. (2017), it is necessary to make sure that every locality must have at least one urgent care
home so that people should not travel more to gain desired care facilities. However, it is
observed that specific policies and practices are required to be establishing which should be
followed in urgent care in order to provide effective medical services. It includes the criterion of
putting efforts to make sure about improved quality services should be delivered for welfare of
citizens. It includes carry out analysis the data and patient outcomes. Meanwhile, it is required to
set goals of providing care and treatment for different types of patients for their respective
diseases which facilitate to make them overcome with them. It includes considering several
elements like safe, effective, patient centred, timely, efficient and equitable goals for urgent
patient care that helps to conduct clinical practices more effectively for healing with problems of
them. Moreover, it includes role of medical practitioners to develop balanced team and provide
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