Is Patient First the Same as Urgent Care? A Detailed Comparison

September 25, 2025 •

4 min read

With the rise of walk-in medical centers, many people question if their neighborhood clinic fits into the traditional healthcare landscape. Since 1981, Patient First has offered walk-in services, leading many to ask, is Patient First the same as urgent care?. While it certainly provides urgent care services, Patient First operates under a broader, more integrated model.

Quick Summary

Patient First is a specific, integrated medical group that offers both urgent care and primary care services, along with on-site diagnostics, distinguishing it from a typical standalone urgent care clinic. While it functions as a walk-in urgent care center, its expanded scope offers continuity of care and a wider range of services under one roof.

Key Points

Integrated Model: Patient First is a specific company offering both urgent and primary care, unlike a generic urgent care clinic that focuses solely on immediate, non-life-threatening issues.
Continuity of Care: Patient First can serve as your family's primary care provider, maintaining a consistent record of your health, which a standard urgent care clinic cannot do.
On-Site Services: Patient First offers comprehensive on-site labs, X-rays, and prescription medications, allowing for diagnosis and treatment in one visit.
Availability: Both Patient First and urgent care clinics offer walk-in services with extended hours, but Patient First is open 365 days a year.
Purpose: Choose Patient First for both immediate and long-term health needs, but a standard urgent care clinic works well for one-off, non-life-threatening issues when your PCP is unavailable.
Cost Considerations: Urgent care is typically more affordable than an ER visit, but your copay and coverage can differ depending on whether you're using Patient First for urgent or primary care.

Understanding the Urgent Care Model

Urgent care clinics emerged to bridge the gap between primary care physicians and emergency rooms. They are designed to treat illnesses and injuries that require prompt attention but are not life-threatening. The typical urgent care facility is a convenient, walk-in alternative for situations when your regular doctor isn't available, offering care during extended hours, including evenings and weekends.

Key characteristics of a standard urgent care clinic include:

Focus on Immediate Needs: Treatment for conditions like colds, flu, minor cuts, sprains, infections, and allergic reactions.
Walk-in Basis: Appointments are not required, though some may offer online check-in.
Limited Scope: They typically do not handle chronic disease management or offer long-term, continuous care.
On-site Services: Many modern urgent care clinics include on-site X-ray and lab testing capabilities.

The limitations of a standalone urgent care include a lack of medical history continuity and the absence of preventive services, which are standard offerings from a primary care provider.

The Patient First Difference: An Integrated Approach

Patient First is not just an urgent care clinic; it is a full-service medical provider that integrates urgent, primary, and occupational health services under a single roof. Founded in 1981, the company has grown into a well-established chain, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic region. Their unique model is designed for maximum convenience and comprehensive care. This integration is what primarily separates it from a standard urgent care clinic.

What makes Patient First different from a typical urgent care center?

Integrated Care: Patient First allows you to use its services for both walk-in urgent needs and ongoing primary care. This means they can manage your chronic conditions, offer preventive care, and keep a consistent record of your health history, a service most urgent care facilities do not provide.
Convenience: Like standard urgent care, Patient First operates on a walk-in basis with extended hours, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
On-site Diagnostics and Pharmacy: To provide a seamless experience, Patient First centers feature on-site labs, X-rays, and even some medications, allowing for diagnosis and treatment in a single visit.
Occupational Health Services: The company also caters to employer needs, providing workers' compensation and pre-employment physicals, another feature not universally offered by urgent care clinics.

For those who choose Patient First as their primary care provider, this integrated approach offers a hybrid solution that blends the accessibility of a walk-in clinic with the continuity of a traditional family doctor.

Comparison Table: Patient First vs. Urgent Care


Feature	Patient First (Integrated Model)	Standard Urgent Care Clinic
Core Service Model	Offers both urgent and primary care services, occupational health, and more.	Primarily focused on walk-in treatment for immediate, non-life-threatening conditions.
Continuity of Care	High. Can serve as your primary care provider, maintaining a consistent health record.	Low. Limited visibility into your long-term health history.
Services Offered	Wide range, including urgent care, annual physicals, chronic condition management, women's health, and more.	Focuses on episodic illness and injury treatment, such as flu, sprains, and infections.
On-site Capabilities	Extensive, featuring on-site labs, X-rays, and some prescription medications.	Variable, but many offer on-site labs and X-rays.
Pricing	Often cost-effective compared to ER, with different costs for urgent vs. primary care visits. Lower copays for primary care, higher for urgent.	Generally more affordable than ER, but typically more expensive than a primary care visit.
Insurance	Accepts most major insurance plans and files claims. May participate as urgent care only with some plans.	Varies by clinic and specific insurance network. Often accepts major insurance.
Availability	Extended hours, 365 days a year.	Extended hours, including evenings and weekends, but sometimes with varying hours.

Deciding Where to Go for Care

Your choice between Patient First and a generic urgent care clinic depends on your specific needs and long-term healthcare goals. While both are excellent alternatives to the emergency room for non-life-threatening issues, the decision often comes down to convenience versus continuity of care.

When to choose Patient First:

When seeking an all-in-one solution: If you want the convenience of walk-in availability and the consistency of a primary care physician in a single facility.
For comprehensive care: Use Patient First for both urgent issues and ongoing health management, including chronic conditions and preventive screenings.
For maximum convenience: The on-site labs, X-rays, and pharmacy minimize the need for multiple trips to different locations for care.

When to choose a standard urgent care clinic:

For an isolated incident: If you have a one-off, non-emergency illness or injury and already have an established relationship with a different primary care provider.
Based on location or insurance: If your insurance network or proximity favors a different urgent care clinic, it might be the most practical choice. It is crucial to verify insurance participation for both types of facilities.
Outside of Patient First's region: Patient First operates in specific states, so geographic location is a key factor.

Conclusion: More Than Just Urgent Care

Patient First is a unique medical model that incorporates urgent care services but is not synonymous with the term. By offering a comprehensive suite of primary care, urgent care, and occupational health services, along with integrated on-site diagnostics, Patient First offers a higher level of care continuity than a typical standalone urgent care clinic. Understanding this key difference empowers you to choose the right option for your family's immediate and long-term health needs.

For more information on the role of urgent care in the healthcare system, visit the official website of the Urgent Care Association.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Patient First can function as your primary care provider for patients over seven years of age. This allows for the convenience of walk-in availability and the continuity of having a single medical record for ongoing health management.

The main difference is the scope of services. Patient First is an integrated model that provides primary and occupational care in addition to urgent care. A typical urgent care clinic focuses exclusively on immediate, non-life-threatening conditions and does not offer long-term, continuous care.

Patient First accepts most major insurance plans. However, depending on your plan, they may participate as an urgent care provider only. It is best to check with your insurance company or the Patient First website for specific coverage details.

The cost can vary depending on the visit type and your insurance. A standard urgent care visit may be slightly different in cost than a Patient First urgent care visit. For primary care, Patient First may have lower copays consistent with a PCP visit, but an urgent issue will have a different cost structure.

You should go to Patient First or any urgent care for non-life-threatening issues like colds, flu, minor burns, sprains, or infections. Always go to the emergency room for life-threatening conditions such as severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, or major trauma.

No, Patient First operates on a walk-in basis for urgent and primary care services, with no appointment necessary. This walk-in model is a core feature of their convenient care offering.

Yes, a key benefit of Patient First centers is the availability of on-site diagnostic tools, including digital X-rays and lab testing, which allows for faster diagnosis and treatment.