Urgent Team
An urgent care provider operating clinics across the southeastern United States.
PE-OWNED
Acquired by Sentinel Capital Partners2018-05-01
What Made It Great
Convenient urgent care services in underserved markets
What PE Will Likely Do
Urgent Team will reduce nursing staff and replace registered nurses (RNs) with less-skilled licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or nursing assistants to cut labor costs
Urgent Team will aggressively code for higher-reimbursement procedures and diagnoses to boost revenues, leading to 'upcoding' of patient bills
Urgent Team will eliminate unprofitable but essential services like pediatric, psychiatric, or rural care in order to focus on the most profitable procedures
Expected Timeline
“0 to 6 months months”
Urgent Team will announce 'optimization' and 'efficiency' initiatives, and may shuffle leadership roles
“6 to 12 months months”
Urgent Team will begin staffing cuts under the guise of 'efficiency' programs, and will review service offerings to identify potential cuts
“12 to 24 months months”
Patients of Urgent Team will notice longer wait times, shorter appointment durations, and a decline in the quality of care as a result of the staffing and service cuts
“24 to 36 months months”
Urgent Team may face major issues such as clinic closures in less-profitable regions, and potential quality scandals due to the decline in care standards
“36+ months months”
Urgent Team could face bankruptcy or be sold off to another operator, potentially leading to clinic closures and further disruption to patient care
Similar Cases
Other companies that followed a similar path after PE acquisition
What You Can Do
Actions
Monitor for any changes in the quality of care, such as longer wait times, shorter appointment durations, or a perceived decline in the attention and expertise of the medical staff
Be cautious of any changes in billing practices, such as unexpected or unexplained charges, and question any procedures or diagnoses that seem questionable
Stay informed about any service cuts or clinic closures, and be prepared to seek care from alternative providers if necessary
Alternatives
Community-focused healthcare
Integrated managed care consortium