Standalone Emergency Rooms

These are ERs not affiliated with a hospital and they are growing.  In 2009 there were 200, today that number has doubled.  They are growing because they are profitable. They are more profitable than urgent care centers because they can charge a "facility fee" plus the regular doctor's fee.  

The owners of these ERs have done a good marketing job.  They are usually located near high-end shopping centers in attractive buildings, advertise to and target consumers with private insurance.  Another appeal to the consumer is the fact that these ERs are not as busy or crowded as hospital-based ERs.

But from the perspective of lowering healthcare costs, the Standalone Emergency Rooms are not helping.