U.S. Freestanding Emergency Department Market Size, Share, Forecast Report, 2020-2027

The U.S. freestanding emergency department market size was valued at around USD 3 billion in 2019 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of around 5% over the forecast period. The U.S. freestanding emergency department (FSED) market is majorly driven by overcrowding of the emergency departments at the hospitals, growing number of patients opting for immediate treatment options, and advanced healthcare infrastructure of the country.

Moreover, increasing number of injuries due to accidents and rising incidence of chest pain or disease like epilepsy and stroke, which require immediate attention, are driving the need for FSED in the country. With provision of immediate care to the patient in urgent need, the number of deaths can be reduced, which generally happens while transferring a patient to the appropriate hospital.

Convenience care represents a spectrum of care delivery models including retail clinics, urgent care centers, and freestanding emergency departments. These departments represent a budding opportunity within healthcare services space. Increasing number of freestanding emergency departments can be attributed to location accessibility and treatment cost concerns by both public officials and consumers.

There are accessibility concerns due to overcrowding in hospital-based emergency rooms and a lack of convenient hospital locations. Cost pressure has resulted in the shift from inpatient, hospital-based care to less expensive outpatient settings. In general, these care centers are staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants and have the resources to provide basic screening and diagnostic services and treat low complexity conditions.

Services Insights
On the basis of services, the U.S. freestanding emergency department market is segmented into emergency department (ED) services, imaging services, and laboratory services. In 2019, ED services held the largest share in the service segment. Rising volume of injury-related visits, faster turnaround time, increasing preference for walk-in clinics among patients, and rising number of Medical Screening Exams (MSEs) recommended by the physicians to the ED visitors to determine presence of any medical condition are some of the major factors driving the growth.

However, the imaging service segment is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. Factors such as increased awareness about medical screening for concluding on the urgency of a medical condition, rise in incidence of chronic but manageable diseases, and sufficient economic resources are contributing to the growth of the market for imaging service in the forthcoming years.

Ownership Insights
On the basis of ownership, the U.S. FSED market has been segmented into off-campus emergency departments (OCED) and independent freestanding emergency market (IFSED). The OCEDs are owned by the hospitals and independent IFSED are privately owned. OCEDs held the largest market share in 2019. Factors such as overcrowding of the hospital emergency department, rising burden of trauma cases, and increasing prevalence of stroke and other neurological disorders that need immediate attention are contributing to the growth.

Moreover, being designated under the CMS, high reimbursement is available for treatment being offered at the OCEDs. These facilities usually refer the patients back to the hospital, which it is affiliated to, for inpatient care. It is mandatory for OCEDs in U.S. to comply with all federal regulations regarding emergency department operations, which include The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). Thus, it becomes compulsory for OCEDs to screen and stabilize medical emergencies of all patients, without taking their financial condition (patient’s ability to pay) into consideration. The OCED can be inspected voluntarily by the Joint Commission/CMS, but this inspection is not mandatory.

U.S. Freestanding Emergency Department Market Share Insights
Some of the key players operating in the market are Health Inc.; Adeptus Health; Tenet Healthcare Corporation; Universal Health Services, Inc.; HCA Healthcare, Inc.; Community Health Systems, Inc.; Ascension Health; Legacy Lifepoint Health, Inc.; Ardent Health Services; and Emerus.

The market witnessed facility expansion through mergers and acquisitions by the key players, which combined various services together and thus, increased the overall market revenue. In February 2019, HCA Healthcare, Inc. completed the acquisition of Mission Health with which HCA planned to build a hospital for inpatient behavioral health in Asheville with 120 beds. In addition, the company planned to build a new replacement hospital Franklin, N.C. for Angel Medical Center and also plans to invest USD 232 million in the capital in Mission Health facilities.

In January 2020, HCA Healthcare, Inc. announced the acquisition of Valify, a technology company that offers a web-based platform to reduce the overall costs of health services. Valify’s technology platform is expected to help HCA in identifying opportunities to decrease costs.

Segments Covered in the Report
This report forecasts revenue growth on country level and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2027. For this study, has segmented the U.S. freestanding emergency department market report based on ownership and service:

• Ownership Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Off-Campus Emergency Department (OCED)

  • Independent Freestanding Emergency Department (IFSED)

• Service Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Emergency Department (ED) Service

  • Imaging Service

  • Laboratory Service

• Region Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • U.S.