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Clint Betlock, vice president of real estate and facilities at MD Now Urgent Care, is working to maintain the organization’s standing as the largest and fastest-growing service provider of its kind in Florida.
Betlock stands on the front lines of the provider’s retail expansion, designing lease negotiations and overseeing development, property management, and facilities. In 2022, MD Now became part of HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services, which boasts 182 hospitals and more than 2,300 sites of care in 20 states and the United Kingdom.
As a result, five former CareNow clinics in Treasure Coast, three in Orlando, and one in Jacksonville are operating as MD Now urgent care. Additionally, six Paramount Urgent Care clinics in Orlando—all acquired by HCA Healthcare in November 2022—were rebranded to MD Now.
The growth is part of a nationwide trend in the retail clinic market. According to Fortune Business Insights, the US retail clinic market was valued at $2 billion in 2022 and is projected to double by 2029. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, clinics have been experiencing “higher-than-anticipated demand across the US compared to pre-pandemic levels,” the site reported. However, there were signs of growth well before the pandemic. In 2017, Blue Cross Blue Shield reported that visits to retail clinics for the past five years among commercially insured members had doubled.
For MD Now, its current growth and expansion is “a big step forward in our efforts to bring superior healthcare and state-of-the-art urgent care clinics to more communities across Florida,” Tina Miller, chief operating officer at MD Now, said in a press release. “The rebranded clinics will offer the same services and allow us to continue achieving our main goal: providing patients with the best healthcare experience possible.”
In addition to helping to drive growth, Betlock takes pride in leading his internal and external teams with gratitude. He makes a consistent effort to recognize his staff’s wins to encourage more success.
Like many industry leaders, he’s been facing a major challenge with persistent supply chain issues. But while the current environment makes it hard to meet construction deadlines, he’s been navigating that hurdle by identifying and planning ahead for long lead times, as well as communicating with his executive team.
Recently, the urgent care service provider has expanded its statewide presence even further, opening a new location in West Fort Pierce—MD Now’s 79th clinic and second opening in 2023. Like the provider’s other locations, the West Fort Pierce clinic touts the use of advanced medical technology to provide a full spectrum of services for patients of all ages. It features seven exam rooms, one triage room, a procedure room, and an X-ray room.
“We are excited to bring another state-of-the-art MD Now clinic to the people of St. Lucie County,” said Curtis Franke, chief medical officer, in a press release. “As we continue to grow our footprint and deliver high-quality healthcare across the state, more and more Floridians will get the quality urgent care services they need.”
“Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare when they need it most,” Franke added in the same release. “In St. Lucie County and beyond, MD Now is making high-quality, affordable care easier to access than ever before.”
