Growing healthcare needs and busy lifestyles are driving Bay Area families to urgent care

Bay Area residents are increasingly turning to urgent care as a fast and flexible option for everyday healthcare. New findings from the 2025 Urgent Care Pulse Check Survey, commissioned by UCSF Health-GoHealth Urgent Care, show that nearly one in three Bay Area residents say their family needs more urgent care this year, highlighting the growing demand for convenient care that fits into busy schedules. 

That demand is already reflected in how residents seek care. Nearly three-quarters of Bay Area households visited urgent care in the past year, and 70% say they seek medical care at the first sign of illness, significantly higher than the national average (49%). 

Convenience and access drive urgent care use 

For Bay Area residents, speed, quality, and accessibility are major factors in deciding where to seek care.  

• 59% cite the ability to be seen quickly 
• 57% say high-quality care is a key reason 
• 54% value a convenient location 

Access to healthcare also influences where people in the Bay Area choose to live: 72% say they considered proximity to medical care when they last moved, compared to 55% nationally. 

Scheduling challenges and time pressures increase demand 

Around the Bay Area, people are also increasingly turning to urgent care when traditional healthcare access becomes difficult or time-consuming. 

Several emerging trends also help explain why urgent care is a popular choice for Bay Area residents. 

• 33% say finances or insurance make urgent care a more budget-friendly option (vs. 21% nationally) 
• 32% say their families need more frequent care for non-life-threatening conditions (vs. 19% nationally) 
• 30% say they have less time to schedule or manage traditional appointments 

Together, these trends highlight the growing need for healthcare that is fast, convenient, and easily accessible. 

Bay Area lifestyle influences healthcare needs 

Life in the Bay Area often centers around outdoor activities, food culture, and fitness – habits that also shape the health concerns residents experience. With over 1,400 miles of trails in the region, outdoor recreation is a year-round part of daily life for many residents. 

• 48% participate in outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and barbecuing 
• 25% enjoy beach culture, compared with 13% nationally 
• 29% participate in water-based activities 

Spending so much time outdoors can also raise seasonal health concerns, with 39% of Bay Area residents reporting seasonal allergies.  

This outdoor lifestyle is closely tied to a strong emphasis on fitness. More than half of residents (55%) engage in individual exercise, while 28% attend fitness classes and 29% participate in sports, compared with 20% nationally. 15% also participate in strenuous activities such as marathons or mountain climbing. 

That active mindset often includes a willingness to push physical limits, as 27% of residents are willing to accept higher health risks for activities they enjoy. With many people taking part in physically strenuous activities, injuries are also more common: 22% report urgent care visits for sports-related injuries, more than double the national average (10%). 

The region’s renowned food culture also shapes everyday health patterns. More than half of residents (52%) identify as culinary explorers, significantly higher than the national average (32%). At the same time, 29% report experiencing stomach issues such as food poisoning at least once per year, compared to 16% nationally.  

Trust in hospital-affiliated urgent care 

While convenience often drives urgent care visits, Bay Area residents also highly value connection to a trusted healthcare system. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of Bay Area residents prefer hospital-affiliated urgent care, well above the national average (59%). Top reasons include: 

• Higher-quality medical providers (59%) 
• Seamless connection to specialists (58%) 
• Providers’ access to medical history (56%) 

Together, these findings highlight that, for the Bay Area, healthcare is not just about speed and convenience; it’s about trusted, integrated care that seamlessly connects to a broader healthcare system. UCSF Health-GoHealth Urgent Care meets these expectations by offering convenient urgent care along with UCSF Health’s broader network of specialists, primary care providers, and digital tools that help residents access care when and where they need it. 

Infographic: 

UCSF Health-GoHealth Urgent Care - 2025 Urgent Care Pulse Check - 1000x2500.pdf 

UCSF Health-GoHealth Urgent Care - 2025 Urgent Care Pulse Check - 8.5x11.pdf