With Hospitals in Crisis, State Greenlights More from Urgent Care Centers

Above, Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh

Last month, state officials and major health care industry groups  agreed to a 90-day approach to address severe emergency department capacity challenges by redirecting certain patients in eastern Massachusetts to urgent care providers.

Locally, Dr. Jeannie Kenkare, Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer at PhysicianOne Urgent Care (P1UC), said “PhysicianOne Urgent Care (P1UC) fully supports and is cooperating with the commonwealth to address the emergency room capacity challenges."

Indeed, she noted, P1UC was founded in 2008 with the specific goal to provide a convenient and affordable alternative to the emergency room for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. In addition to decompressing the ER, P1UC provides care when patients are unable to visit their PCP, or if they do not have an established primary care provider. —

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Insurance issued a memo  outlining how insurers and urgent care providers have agreed to temporary plans to help increase capacity in hospital emergency departments. Officials said the plan is aimed in part at managing the "typically high" volume of emergency room visits in the summertime.

The approach is designed to redirect only patients who are not in need of emergency-level care from July 3 through Oct. 1.

"We are appreciative of everyone who has come together to work on this solution. It is the result of a collaborative effort across state government, urgent care providers and insurance companies to find the most effective ways to serve patients in Massachusetts," Executive Office of Health and Human Services spokesperson Olivia James said in a statement.

The 90-day program has been embraced by health plans and urgent care providers represented by the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Steward Health, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the Mass. Urgent Care Association.

"Thank you for your collective efforts during these challenging times to support our healthcare system provide the right care at the right site for Massachusetts residents. Recognizing there is not a single answer to ease this situation, we are hopeful that this strategy will help reduce unnecessary emergency department crowding in the months ahead. We are grateful for your continued support," Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh and state public health, insurance, and MassHealth officials wrote in a memo.

And, added P1UC's Kenkare, "We are proud to serve our local communities to ensure patients get access to professional, affordable, and friendly health care at our community locations as well as through our 24/7 virtual platform when appropriate.”