Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing has become an increasingly utilized diagnostic tool in Urgent Care (UC) settings. Because of this, more urgent cares are choosing to adopt PCR as an in-house service in order to fully capitalize on the speed it is capable of, ensure 24-hour turnaround times, and avoid variable pricing structures dictated by third-party reference labs.

However, owning your PCR testing requires you to set up your own full-fledged PCR laboratory, which is not without its challenges. While even single-location facilities will be able to benefit in some way from bringing testing in-house, the benefits and opportunities scale in multi-location Urgent Care networks. 

Here, a "hub-and-spoke" implementation model can make PCR adoption more practical by leveraging economies of scale, addressing logistical challenges, ensuring quality more easily, optimizing efficiency, and planning for scalability.

How the Hub-and-Spoke Model Works

A hub-and-spoke PCR implementation involves one “hub” that provides PCR testing services to all the clinical “spoke” sites.

The chosen location will need to have dedicated laboratory space, be equipped with PCR instrumentation, and have trained technical staff dedicated to sample processing and analysis. It will need to meet the strict regulatory standards associated with CLIA certification and have operating procedures dedicated to continually ensuring the accuracy and reliability of all testing conducted there.

Samples are typically delivered by courier from spoke locations and collected by the hub site, where they are received, logged, and processed according to standardized protocols. This includes nucleic acid extraction, amplification, analysis, and result reporting back to the spoke sites. 

How a Hub-and-Spoke Model Simplifies In-House PCR

1. Better Quality Control

Maintaining rigorous quality standards should be of paramount importance when adopting in-house PCR. Not only is maintaining quality a critical factor in remaining compliant, but it also provides confidence in furnished results. When you centralize testing at a single hub, all samples are processed in a solitary, controlled environment, which can minimize variability and errors. Since hub staff are dedicated testing personnel, they can focus exclusively on PCR, with their attention devoted to ensuring protocols are consistently followed. This results in reliable, high-quality results that clinics across the network can depend on.

2. Lower Implementation Barriers for Individual Locations

Implementing new testing processes can often be a burden, but one of the most significant advantages of this model is how it reduces that burden for each individual clinic. Spoke clinics only need training on new procedures related to collecting and sending samples, which likely bear much similarity to prior PCR utilization. This can make it faster and more cost-effective to introduce PCR testing services to new locations. 

3. Concentrated Technical Expertise at the Hub

Instead of spreading resources thinly across multiple locations, the hub-and-spoke model consolidates technical expertise at the hub. Highly trained specialists operate the PCR equipment, serve as PCR testing support for troubleshooting issues, and ensure the highest standards of accuracy. Spoke clinics benefit from this expertise since they don’t need in-house technical staff. This centralization maximizes efficiency and allows clinics to focus on patient care rather than lab operations.

4. Optimal Resource Utilization

A Hub-based model ensures resources can be pooled together for optimal efficiency. Equipment, reagents, and consumables are shared, reducing redundancy, complicated inventory management, and waste. Economies of scale also become evident as a result of bulk processing, which can lower the cost per test. For urgent care networks, this means achieving greater efficiency and optimized cost management

5. Network-Wide Standardization for Staff

Training clinical and administrative staff on processes unique to each site can be burdensome and opens opportunities for errors. The hub-and-spoke model ensures testing uniformity across the network, with sample collection, delivery, interpretation, and data reporting all following standardized protocols. This means providers and other staff can go between locations without needing to learn new processes. 

6. Plug-and-Play Expansion to New Locations

The hub-and-spoke model simplifies new clinic onboarding. Instead of setting up complex lab infrastructure at every new location, clinics can immediately begin sending samples to the hub. This plug-and-play capability can reduce the time it takes to bring new clinics online and make it easier to grow the network. 

7. Scales As You Do

The hub-and-spoke model proves its value the more you scale. The hub can be designed to handle increased sample volume with the onboarding of new spoke clinics in order to accommodate future growth without requiring a proportional investment at every spoke. Whether the network adds one new clinic or several, the model’s flexibility ensures seamless adaptation to changing demands. This scalability makes it an ideal choice for urgent care providers planning long-term growth.

The Verdict

The hub-and-spoke model offers an approach to implementing in-house PCR testing that leverages the scale of multi-location Urgent Care networks. By centralizing critical operations at the hub, urgent care providers can maintain high-quality diagnostics, simplify processes for individual clinics, and scale efficiently as their networks expand. This model not only meets today’s needs but positions urgent care systems for sustainable success in the future.