More healthcare providers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expanding the Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) to reduce the overcrowding in hospital emergency rooms (ERs) and offer patients faster and more comfortable treatments.
According to experts, these centres are filling an important gap in the healthcare system. Aster Hospitals and Clinics’ CEO – UAE, Oman, and Bahrain, Dr Sherbaz Bichu, “Emergency rooms get crowded with patients who don’t need critical intervention but still need instant care in many cases“.
Recently, Aster Hospital Al Qusais launched the GP-led urgent care clinic to solve this issue. It operates daily from 10 PM to 6 AM. However, the facility is created for urgent and non-life-threatening conditions. So, it ensures patients get timely medical attention while maintaining ERs Free for critical emergencies.
Faster and Patient-Friendly Treatment in Urgent Care Centres
Shorter waiting times are one of the top benefits of the UCCs. Hence, Dr Bichu said, “Most patients are attended to by a doctor in only 15 minutes of arrival. The setup is streamlined for quick assessment, treatment, and discharge while still backed by hospital resources if needed.”
ERs prioritize patients based on their severity. On the other hand, UCCs often operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Thus, an Emergency Medicine Specialist at NMC Specialty Hospital in Al Nahda, Dubai, Srikanth Padmanabhan, shared, “Studies show that ER stays last for many hours, while urgent care visits are much shorter.”
Cost-Effective Healthcare Option
Urgent Care facilities save time and reduce costs for patients and the wider healthcare system. Dr. Srikanth explained, “By diverting non-emergencies cases away from the high-cost ER settings, the climate saves money for patients and the system”.
Dr. Bichu highlighted that UCC visits are priced similarly to a general practitioner consultation and lower than specialist consultants. He said, “This makes urgent care clinics an affordable choice without compromising quality.”
What Conditions Do UCCs Treat?
Generally, these clinics manage the following conditions:
- Fevers, flu, and infections
- Sprains and minor cuts
- Mild asthma and stomach upsets
- Ear and throat issues
- Minor burns
On the other hand, life-threatening cases, like chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe trauma, or uncontrolled bleeding, are immediately transferred to the ERs. Moreover, healthcare leaders believe UCCs are going to play an important role in reducing waiting time and ensuring the ERs remain focused on true emergencies. Thus, more UCCs are opening across the UAE.
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