BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Family Care (AFC), one of the largest and oldest operators of urgent care and accessible primary care facilities in the country, announced today that it has agreed to terms to acquire Doctors Express (DRX), the largest franchisor of urgent care centers in the United States. AFC, founded in 1982 and celebrating “30 Years of Caring,” is based in Birmingham, Alabama. AFC currently has 37 clinics in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. Doctors Express, currently owned by an affiliate of The Ensign Group, has 63 urgent care centers in 25 states. Upon completion of this acquisition, which is expected to occur on April 15, 2013, AFC will become the second largest privately held urgent care operator in the country. By the end of 2013, with this acquisition and current growth plans, AFC and affiliates will operate more than 140 facilities in 26 states.
“At American Family Care, we pride ourselves on having the knowledge and expertise to effectively and economically manage medical facilities,” says D. Bruce Irwin, M.D., owner and founder of American Family Care. “As the nation’s healthcare model continues to rapidly change and the number of insured patients without a primary care physician increases, AFC and Doctors Express will meet that need and provide patients with easily accessible primary care, urgent care, family care and occupational medicine.”
Irwin said, “The cornerstone of American Family Care’s success is rooted in our mission statement:
It is our mission to provide the best healthcare possible, in a kind and caring environment, while respecting the rights of all patients, in an economical manner, at times and locations convenient to the patient.”
As currently planned, American Family Care will retain the Doctors Express name. DRX will continue to function under its current franchise model. Doctors Express headquarters, currently located in Baltimore, Md., will be moved to Birmingham, Ala.
In Birmingham, AFC centralizes all non medical functions with over 110 employees. This seasoned management team will provide support for the AFC/DRX clinics in all areas of medical facilities operation and development. Support services include: accounting, facilities and materials management, marketing, facility development, purchasing, claims processing, human resources, occupational medicine marketing and development, physician recruiting, provider relations, information technology and training (instructor-led and e-learning).
With the Doctors Express acquisition, AFC will provide care to over a million patients in 26 states. Currently, AFC has over 800 employees. This number will grow as AFC and Doctors Express continue to follow an aggressive growth plan.
About American Family Care
In 1982, D. Bruce Irwin, M.D. opened the first American Family Care Medical Clinic in Hoover, Alabama. Today, there are 37 clinics in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee with several additional clinics under development. The company’s model of “putting the patient first” has made it an overwhelming success. The clinics are designed, equipped and staffed to provide accessible primary care family care, urgent care, minor emergency treatment, and occupational medicine. AFC uses electronic medical records and has a high-tech, high touch approach to medical care, including digital x-ray system and an on-site laboratory. All clinics are staffed with caring and compassionate healthcare professionals. For more information about AFC, please visit our website at www.americanfamilycare.com.
About Ensign™
The Ensign Group, Inc.’s independent operating subsidiaries provide a broad spectrum of skilled nursing and assisted living services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, home health and hospice services, urgent care services and other rehabilitative and healthcare services at 109 facilities, seven hospice companies and nine home health businesses in California, Arizona, Texas, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, Nebraska and Oregon. More information about Ensign is available at http://www.ensigngroup.net.