Banner Health said Wednesday that it has acquired 32 urgent-care centers in Arizona from Urgent Care Extra. Terms were not disclosed.
Banner, which operates hospitals in seven Western states, said that the centers provide an important access point for patients outside of hospital emergency departments. The centers will be rebranded as Banner Urgent Care on Oct. 1.
“We are very excited to extend the Banner brand to these numerous locations,” said Becky Kuhn, executive vice president of community delivery for Phoenix-based Banner. “We know that urgent care is valued for convenience, quality and affordability for routine care.”
Banner said it expects to have 50 urgent-care centers in Arizona by the end of 2017.
More than 400 Urgent Care Extra employees will join the 40,000 Banner employees in Arizona. The system is the largest private employer in Arizona.
Banner noted there are approximately 9,300 walk-in, stand-alone urgent-care centers in the U.S., according to data from the American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine.
Additionally, it is estimated that 50 to 100 clinics open every year, Banner said.
In addition to its hospitals, Banner operates the Banner Health Network, the Banner Medical Group, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services including family clinics, home care and hospice services.
