As healthcare costs rise, many consumers are looking to urgent care centers for financial relief.

A fast-growing sector, many hospitals, insurance companies, and even retail drugstores are investigating how the addition of urgent care centers could bring in extra profits from a demographic in search of savings.

In communities where urgent care is already available, these centers serve as low-cost alternatives to the emergency room. Urgent care is already a $20 Billion industry, with more than 1000 new centers opened since last year.

These consumer-friendly resources are usually open evenings and weekends, and staffed by a board certified physician. Many also offer lab testing and X-ray.

Community-scale health services are finding new footholds across America, and it's only a matter of time before more traditional healthcare providers start investing in this new model.

Read full article at The Motley Fool.