VHC Health in Arlington, VA, is planning to offer both emergency room and urgent care services at a single outpatient center in nearby Falls Church. The facility aims to provide triage and direct patients to the appropriate service for timely and cost-effective care. This hybrid model, already in use by a dozen health systems in 10 states, allows doctors to decide on the level of care needed before treatment begins, potentially saving patients hundreds or thousands of dollars. Consumer advocates worry that hospitals may route patients to costlier ER-level care, but patients at these hybrid facilities reported short wait times and comprehensive care.
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What’s Behind New Combined Urgent Care-ER Facilities
