Why Healthcare Franchises Are Booming

3 Reasons Why Healthcare Franchises are Booming Right Now

By: Christine Dura

One of the most important franchises providing services to the public is the healthcare franchise. Not only are healthcare franchises important, but they are increasing in popularity by the day. Depending on who you ask, there are nearly 10,000 urgent care centers in the country alone. And, according to the Urgent Care Association of America, 87% of urgent-care-center operators acquired or built a new location in 2014, and 89% of those operators said patient visits increased in 2014 from the previous year. In addition, 91 percent of urgent care centers anticipated growth in 2015. So, why are healthcare franchises booming so much?

Need

Healthcare franchises are serving a need in the medical field in a variety of communities. Medical professionals, hospitals and even enterprising businesspeople have been searching for quicker and more affordable ways to deliver quality service to the increasing population of people needing medical care. This is where the healthcare franchise model comes in. The healthcare franchise can offer routine medical care as efficiently as other traditional medical facilities. Furthermore, the aging Baby Boomers population is adding stress to the healthcare system and will continue to do so over the next couple of decades. The ability to serve more patients in need at lower costs will eventually become a critical challenge for the medical field. Healthcare franchises can serve this growing need in a variety of ways – not only through primary care but specialized care, too.

Smart Investment

Owning a healthcare franchise is a sound business decision. As a result of their growing demand, entrepreneurs are getting into business with a variety of healthcare franchises. In addition to the typical urgent care franchise, specialty healthcare franchises are becoming increasingly popular and widespread. Franchises like OrthoNOW, which offers orthopedic care in an urgent care setting, are serving a sector of the population that hasn’t been catered to before. In an article by Entrepreneur.com, founder Alejandro Badia said, “OrthoNOW was born out of a sense of frustration. As a hand surgeon, virtually everyone who came to see me had been someplace else before or had waited for hours in the ER and gotten an erroneous diagnosis. By the time they saw me three weeks later, their problems were worse and harder to treat. I sensed the way healthcare was run was a waste of time and money.” This type of unique need offers a smart investment opportunity for entrepreneurs and medical professionals alike. Not only is the initial investment in opening a healthcare franchise typically smaller, there is a built-in network of support and resources in dealing with medical red tape. Physicians can focus on what they truly love – patient care.

Demand

People want quality healthcare at affordable costs on their own schedules. The demand for convenient and less costly medical care is at an all-time high. Consumers want to be able to get seen quickly, without having to make appointments days or weeks in advance. At a healthcare franchise, a patient can be seen by a qualified medical professional generally in less than half the time of an emergency room visit. In addition, patients save money by visiting healthcare franchises, yet their quality of care is not sacrificed.

Whether a patient needs medical care, dental care, or even massage therapy – the healthcare franchise model can be of service. With thousands and thousands of locations across the nation, healthcare franchises are here to stay and serve.

OrthoNOW is the first and only Orthopedic franchise. Contact Christine Dura at Christine@orthonowcare.com for more information about franchise opportunities.

Christine has over 25 years of quantifiable executive management and franchise related leadership experience within the US and internationally with notable franchise startups in the service, technology, retail, food, health and wellness, financial service, medical care, technology and professional services.   As a Senior Franchise Executive and Entrepreneur, Ms. Dura has been both an individual contributor and has successfully led world-class teams.

Ms. Dura excels at partnering with all core business operations to significantly increase the company’s foot print, expand market share, and generate sustainable revenue and EBIT gains.  Her proven successes, combined with her Master Degree in Training and Development, have shaped Ms. Dura’s uncanny ability to identify opportunities, build mutually rewarding partnerships and produce remarkable results. 

In addition, as a four-time Master and Unit Franchise Owner, Ms. Dura is in a very unique position to leverage her experiences and reputation at all levels in franchising along with her vast personal and professional investor network to drive immediate and long term results.   As OrthoNOW’s Chief Development Officer her role is to identify critical gaps in franchise growth and implement strategies to drive results. Her unique background allows her to leverage past experiences and solid reputation to spearhead OrthoNOW’s national expansion plans.