HCA Healthcare this week announced plans to build 3 new freestanding emergency departments (EDs) across western Florida this year, according to a company press release. Officials say that recent population growth has inspired the need for more emergency care. HCA operates 17 hospitals in the region and a total of 186 hospitals across the United States and the United Kingdom. New EDs could draw business away from urgent care centers, so local operators have an opportunity to build brand loyalty now before the new HCA offerings are up and running in 2026.
High-level numbers: According to data from June 2024 presented in Urgent Care’s Top 100 by JUCM, the HCA enterprise ranked in the number 2 spot with 356 urgent care rooftops operating under the CareNow and MD Now brands.