Ardent Health, which operates 30 acute care hospitals in 6 states, last week acquired 18 urgent care clinics from NextCare Urgent Care. NextCare is in the Enhanced Healthcare Partners investment portfolio and up until now included approximately 170 clinic locations, according to a 2024 JUCM analysis. The transaction includes 6 urgent care clinics in New Mexico, which will operate as part of Lovelace Health System, as well as 12 clinics in Oklahoma that will become part of Hillcrest HealthCare System. Both markets are somewhat saturated with urgent care, so Arden chose acquisition instead of building new rooftops, as Ardent Health President and CEO Marty Bonick told Fierce Healthcare. The deal follows Ardent Health’s acquisition of 9 additional urgent care centers in its Texas and Kansas markets in 2024. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, according to the announcement.
Growth through dealmaking: Ardent Health raised $192 million in its initial public offering in July 2024, aiming to grow through acquisitions of outpatient centers and expansion of ambulatory services. Bonick also notes that urgent care is a key access point for referrals to its larger health system.