The Role of Urgent Care Clinics in Alleviating Emergency Department Congestion: A Systematic Review of Patient Outcomes and Resource Utilization.

This systematic review evaluates the impact of standalone urgent care clinics (UCCs) on reducing emergency department (ED) congestion by assessing their influence on patient volumes, wait times, and length of stay. Additionally, it examines UCCs' role in improving patient satisfaction, optimizing healthcare resource utilization, and enhancing cost-effectiveness. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across five major databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, and Directory of Open Access Journals {DOAJ}) using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and relevant keywords. Twelve peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria, focusing on the relationship between UCC implementation and ED performance metrics. The findings indicate that UCCs significantly reduce ED visits, particularly for non-urgent cases, leading to shorter wait times and improved resource allocation. UCCs also enhance healthcare accessibility for underserved populations and are associated with higher patient satisfaction. Cost-effectiveness analyses suggest that UCCs lower overall healthcare expenditures by reducing unnecessary ED visits. However, challenges such as workforce redistribution and regional disparities in UCC effectiveness remain. Integrating UCCs into healthcare systems reduces ED congestion, improves operational efficiency, lowers costs, and enhances patient satisfaction. Future research should explore long-term patient outcomes and strategies for better integration of UCCs within broader healthcare networks.