It’s no secret that the world is in the grip of a health crisis that has wreaked havoc on all facets of society. COVID-19 has caused people to rethink life and forced businesses to respond, if they haven’t been forced to close.

The healthcare franchise industry is certainly no exception, as the pandemic has placed an increased emphasis on the importance of quality healthcare that’s delivered quickly and affordably. 

American Family Care (AFC) is a leader in our industry, shifting to contactless interactions with patients while at the same time providing them with the expert, hands-on care they’ve come to expect from us.

Not all healthcare franchises have been as quick to respond to current demands, nor as able to leverage our industry in general. Here, we’ll discuss what that industry looks like and where AFC fits in.

A Robust Industry

Even before COVID-19, the U.S. healthcare industry was a robust one, as more and more people began paying attention to health and wellness, and the population of aging Americans increased.

Today, these same factors still influence the market, but now a pandemic has been added to the mix, forcing many urgent care centers like AFC to adapt and respond intelligently and with compassion. 

With the intent of meeting healthcare needs safely and responsibly, AFC launched AFC/TeleCare, our telemedicine portal that allows medical providers within our network to provide virtual visits to patients, including assessment and screening of COVID-19 symptoms, from the safety of home.

We were also the first urgent care center in the nation to offer the fastest available molecular point-of-care test for the detection of the coronavirus — a test that delivers results in as little as five minutes.

Being able to provide communities with access to quality healthcare is important, but it becomes especially so in times like these. Any brand in the healthcare franchise industry must be responsive and ready to meet unique needs in unique times, and AFC has demonstrated that ability, time and time again.

Emergency Rooms are Not the Answer

Emergency rooms are there for just that — emergencies. Unfortunately, these days they’ve also become waiting rooms for patients with minor illness, or with issues that are best addressed by a primary care physician. Today, many if not most emergency rooms are overrun and understaffed, and communities deserve an alternative. An AFC healthcare center is just that! 

We’re a leader in the healthcare franchise industry because our clinics offer patients of all ages a suite of services that feature urgent care, primary care, and occupational medicine, all without the hassles of long wait times and scheduling issues.

Furthermore, our presence in a community frees up the local emergency room to focus on real emergencies, which is an important benefit for everyone. 

Today’s healthcare franchise industry is not yesterday’s, and it won’t be tomorrow’s. But no matter what challenges the industry may or may not face, American Family Care will continue to be a leader in it.

If you’d like to find out more about how you can become part of the healthcare industry with an AFC franchise, reach out today!