Urgent Care Centers (UCCs) do not perform major or complex surgical procedures that require a hospital setting. The term “surgery” in this context refers to minor, low-risk interventions performed quickly and safely on an outpatient basis. UCCs bridge the gap between routine primary care and the extensive resources of a hospital Emergency Room (ER). Their capabilities are limited to surface-level tissue repair and minor manipulations for acute illnesses and injuries.
What Urgent Care Centers Are Equipped For
The operational structure of an urgent care center prevents it from handling major surgical cases due to infrastructural and staffing constraints. UCCs operate on a lean business model, lacking the extensive resources found in a hospital environment. They are not equipped with dedicated, sterile surgical suites necessary for procedures involving major body cavities or deep tissue exploration. Furthermore, UCC facilities do not maintain blood banks or the comprehensive monitoring equipment required for significant surgery.
Staffing includes physicians or advanced practice providers, such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants, who specialize in general and acute care, not surgical specialties. They do not employ specialized surgical teams, anesthesiologists, or the support staff needed for complex recovery. Procedures are limited to those safely performed using only local anesthesia, such as lidocaine, which numbs a small, targeted area of skin.
Common Minor Surgical Procedures
Urgent care centers routinely perform several types of minor, quick, and low-risk interventions.
Laceration Repair
One of the most frequent procedures is laceration repair, where providers clean and close cuts using sutures, staples, or specialized adhesive strips. The closure method depends on the wound’s depth, location, and severity, ensuring proper healing for simple skin tears.
Incision and Drainage (I&D)
Another common procedure is the Incision and Drainage (I&D) of abscesses or boils. This involves making a small incision to release the collection of pus caused by infection. This superficial intervention relieves pressure and allows the infected area to heal, often followed by oral antibiotics.
Foreign Body and Lesion Removal
UCCs also specialize in removing superficial foreign bodies, such as splinters, glass shards, or metal fragments embedded just beneath the skin’s surface. Providers may also perform minor skin biopsies or remove uncomplicated skin lesions, like cysts or warts, that do not require deep dissection. Simple nail procedures, such as the partial removal of an ingrown toenail, are routinely performed as well. These procedures address painful, surface-level issues and are manageable with local anesthesia and sterile instruments.
When a Hospital Operating Room is Required
The need for a dedicated hospital operating room is determined by the complexity and depth of the injury or condition. Any injury involving deep structures, such as a laceration that compromised tendons, nerves, or major blood vessels, must be stabilized and transferred to an ER. Complex or compound fractures, where the bone has broken through the skin, require the advanced imaging and orthopedic surgical expertise available only in a hospital setting.
Conditions requiring general or regional anesthesia are beyond the scope of UCCs, as they involve a higher risk of complications and necessitate sophisticated respiratory and cardiac monitoring. Severe burns, internal bleeding, or acute abdominal pain suggesting conditions like appendicitis also demand immediate evaluation in a hospital ER. These situations require access to specialized surgical teams and the full range of hospital resources for rapid intervention.