What is Urgent Care?
鈥淯rgent care鈥 is a phrase commonly used throughout the United States and considered by many as synonymous with 鈥業mmediate Care鈥. However, until January 15, 2015, the phrase 鈥榰rgent care鈥 was differentiated from the phrase 鈥渋mmediate care鈥 in the state of Illinois for its potential ambiguity and the implication that a facility was equipped to handle true emergencies. The Act now reads: (b) No person, facility, or entity shall hold itself out to the public as an 鈥渆mergi-鈥 or 鈥渆mergent鈥 care center or use any similar term, as defined by rule, that would give the impression that emergency medical treatment is provided by the person or entity or at the facility unless the facility is the emergency room of a facility licensed as a hospital under the Hospital Licensing Act or a facility licensed as a freestanding emergency center under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. This Section does not prohibit a person, facility, or entity from holding itself out to the public as an 鈥渦rgi-鈥 or 鈥渦rgent鈥 care center.
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