University of Colorado Health (UCHealth) has significantly expanded its presence in the Pikes Peak region through the acquisition of Integrity Urgent Care, a Colorado Springs-based chain. The announcement, made on Monday, marks UCHealth’s latest strategic move to broaden its network and enhance patient access in the area.
The acquisition, finalized on Friday, includes Integrity Urgent Care’s three established clinics located across west, north, and east Colorado Springs. This deal brings approximately two dozen healthcare providers from Integrity into UCHealth’s extensive Colorado Health Medical Group, which already boasts around 500 physicians.
Integrity Urgent Care had been operating locally until its acquisition in January 2015 by The Ensign Group, a publicly-traded California company primarily focused on senior rehabilitation and nursing facilities. Chad Keetch, an executive at Ensign, declined to comment on the recent transaction. The financial details of UCHealth’s purchase remain undisclosed.
According to Lori Japp, Integrity’s former chief executive and now the new vice president of urgent care at Colorado Health Medical Group, the merger provides Integrity with the stability and robust resources of a large hospital system. This strategic move comes at a crucial time, amidst ongoing transformations within the healthcare industry driven by the Affordable Care Act.
A key integration point will be the incorporation of UCHealth’s electronic health records system into Integrity’s clinics within 30 days. This seamless integration promises to enhance coordination and information sharing across the broader UCHealth network.
While the ownership has changed, the Integrity Urgent Care brand name will be retained for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, under UCHealth’s guidance, Integrity Urgent Care is poised for continued growth, with plans to open two additional locations by the end of this year. These new clinics are slated for Castle Rock and another within the Colorado Springs area, demonstrating a commitment to expanding access to integrity urgent care services.
Another significant change is Integrity’s transition to a nonprofit model, shifting from its previous for-profit structure since inception, as confirmed by Japp. “We are not slowing down at all,” Japp emphasized, highlighting the continued momentum and expansion plans.
UCHealth’s initial significant step into the Pikes Peak region was in 2012 when it leased Memorial Hospital from Colorado Springs. The acquisition of Integrity Urgent Care further solidifies UCHealth’s commitment and expands its network of urgent care options throughout the region. Prior to this acquisition, UCHealth operated only a single urgent care clinic in Colorado Springs, located on Janitell Road.
Urgent care clinics like Integrity Urgent Care are designed to bridge the gap between primary care physicians and emergency rooms. They typically offer extended hours, though not 24/7 care, and specialize in treating minor to moderate health issues. These include cuts, sinus infections, and digestive problems. Healthcare experts generally consider urgent care centers to be a more cost-effective and efficient alternative to hospital emergency rooms for non-life-threatening conditions.
This acquisition follows UCHealth’s partnership announcement just over a year ago with Adeptus Health, a Texas-based, for-profit company operating First Choice Emergency Room facilities across Colorado. As part of that agreement, First Choice Emergency Room locations were rebranded as UCHealth Emergency Room. The partnership also encompasses the UCHealth Grandview Hospital, a 24-bed facility under construction near Interstate 25, anticipated to open its doors this fall, according to Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Cary Vogrin.
Freestanding emergency rooms, unlike urgent care centers, operate 24 hours a day and provide comprehensive emergency services, including X-ray capabilities, lab services, and even delivery rooms. However, they have faced controversy due to concerns from insurance providers who argue that they contribute to higher insurance costs by charging emergency room rates even for less severe medical issues.
Interestingly, one UCHealth Emergency Room location is situated less than half a mile from Integrity Urgent Care’s north Colorado Springs clinic on Voyager Parkway. UCHealth spokesman Dan Weaver addressed potential concerns about overlapping services, stating, “These serve different needs and different patient populations. It’s best for them (patients) to seek out the right level of care.” This distinction underscores the complementary roles of emergency rooms and urgent care centers like Integrity Urgent Care within the healthcare landscape.
