Studies have repeatedly shown that receiving any service or medical treatment in an acute hospital setting, specifically emergency rooms (ERs), is vastly more expensive than any other healthcare setting. In fact, the cost of the same service provided in an urgent care center is 50-75% cheaper than that service at an ER. Why is this? If both settings are providing the same care to the same patient, shouldn't the cost be similar? Let's explore the various factors that cause services to be several times more expensive in a hospital than an outpatient clinic or urgent care facility. Once we dig into the contributing factors of the high cost, we will do a deep dive into the various impacts this has on patients, insurers, medical providers, the system, and the overall US economy. First, let's look at a comparison of the average cost associated with routine visits for common illnesses provided in two different settings. Emergency Room Vs. Urgent Care Condition Emergen...