Switching Your EMR doesn’t need to be complicated or disruptive

Patrice Pash

August 16, 2024

Should Urgent Care Centers Continue Offering Flu Shots in 2024?

Patrice Pash

September 19, 2024

Should Urgent Care Centers Continue Offering Flu Shots in 2024?

Short answer: Yes, urgent care centers continue to benefit from offering annual flu shots for multiple reasons:

1. Convenience and Accessibility

  • Extended Hours: Many urgent care clinics operate beyond standard office hours, including evenings and weekends. This is ideal for patients who can’t visit their primary care provider during regular hours but value the need for seasonal immunization.
  • Walk-In Availability: Walk-in flu shots are perfect for those with busy schedules or for those who decide to get vaccinated spontaneously.

2. Increase Patient Volume

  • Offering flu vaccinations can attract patients who wouldn’t typically visit. Once there, they may seek other services like urgent care treatments, increasing patient traffic and revenue

3. Building Patient Relationships

  • Providing flu shots builds trust with patients who may return for more profitable services. Long-term, this enhances patient retention and boosts lifetime patient value.
  • Urgent care centers serve populations that might lack access to a primary care provider, including the uninsured or underinsured. Offering flu shots helps address this healthcare gap.

4. Revenue from Vaccine Administration

  • Flu shot administration provides direct revenue. While the vaccine itself is low-cost, urgent care centers can profit from administration fees and insurance reimbursements from programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, since most flu shots are managed by the medical assistant, there is low operational expense associated.
  • Many commercial insurance plans also cover annual flu vaccinations, making this a reliable income stream during flu season.

5. Branding and Marketing Opportunity

  • Offering seasonal flu shots provides a marketing opportunity for urgent care centers. Flu shot campaigns help boost visibility, reinforce your brand, and attract new patients.

Conclusion

Providing annual flu shots brings direct financial benefits (through administration fees and insurance reimbursements) and indirect benefits like increased patient loyalty and foot traffic. Offering flu shots is a smart strategy for urgent care centers looking to boost revenue and serve their communities.

Share with us your center’s experience with offering flu shots. Has it changed to adapt to the current healthcare environment?

Switching your EHR software can seem overwhelming, but many concerns are rooted in misconceptions. By addressing these myths and choosing the right EHR software, your practice can improve efficiency and patient care.

If you would like to explore additional ways to increase your urgent care center's revenue or reduce operational expenses, contact us at sales@urgentiq.com

‍

Switching Your EMR doesn’t need to be complicated or disruptive

Patrice Pash

August 16, 2024

Should Urgent Care Centers Continue Offering Flu Shots in 2024?

Patrice Pash

September 19, 2024

Should Urgent Care Centers Continue Offering Flu Shots in 2024?

Short answer: Yes, urgent care centers continue to benefit from offering annual flu shots for multiple reasons:

1. Convenience and Accessibility

  • Extended Hours: Many urgent care clinics operate beyond standard office hours, including evenings and weekends. This is ideal for patients who can’t visit their primary care provider during regular hours but value the need for seasonal immunization.
  • Walk-In Availability: Walk-in flu shots are perfect for those with busy schedules or for those who decide to get vaccinated spontaneously.

2. Increase Patient Volume

  • Offering flu vaccinations can attract patients who wouldn’t typically visit. Once there, they may seek other services like urgent care treatments, increasing patient traffic and revenue

3. Building Patient Relationships

  • Providing flu shots builds trust with patients who may return for more profitable services. Long-term, this enhances patient retention and boosts lifetime patient value.
  • Urgent care centers serve populations that might lack access to a primary care provider, including the uninsured or underinsured. Offering flu shots helps address this healthcare gap.

4. Revenue from Vaccine Administration

  • Flu shot administration provides direct revenue. While the vaccine itself is low-cost, urgent care centers can profit from administration fees and insurance reimbursements from programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, since most flu shots are managed by the medical assistant, there is low operational expense associated.
  • Many commercial insurance plans also cover annual flu vaccinations, making this a reliable income stream during flu season.

5. Branding and Marketing Opportunity

  • Offering seasonal flu shots provides a marketing opportunity for urgent care centers. Flu shot campaigns help boost visibility, reinforce your brand, and attract new patients.

Conclusion

Providing annual flu shots brings direct financial benefits (through administration fees and insurance reimbursements) and indirect benefits like increased patient loyalty and foot traffic. Offering flu shots is a smart strategy for urgent care centers looking to boost revenue and serve their communities.

Share with us your center’s experience with offering flu shots. Has it changed to adapt to the current healthcare environment?

Switching your EHR software can seem overwhelming, but many concerns are rooted in misconceptions. By addressing these myths and choosing the right EHR software, your practice can improve efficiency and patient care.

If you would like to explore additional ways to increase your urgent care center's revenue or reduce operational expenses, contact us at sales@urgentiq.com

‍