North American Association for Ambulatory Urgent Care (NAFAC)

NAFAC, or The National Association for Ambulatory Urgent Care, is a national specialized body for physicians and ambulatory care clinic owners focussing on ambulatory care. The association was founded in 1973. As of July 2006, the group represented roughly 1,700 clinics and had about 500 members. Members include urgent-care chain facilities, single office urgent care centres, ambulatory surgery centres, primary care physicians, and large healthcare systems across the United States. NAFAC issues a reference titled "Bill's Book: Developing Urgent Care Centres." They also offer National Urgent Care Practice Standards Certification as a charitable, self-administered method for urgent care centres to improve quality measures without the difficulties of preparing for outside inspection teams. The American Board of Urgent Care Medicine (ABUCM) serves as a self-governing certifying body for Urgent Care Medicine. The ABUCM was established in 1997 to certify properly qualified candidates in the specialty of Urgent Care Medicine. Certification by the ABUCM recognizes excellence in the field of Urgent Care Medicine.  The ABUCM is committed to the certification of qualified urgent care physicians. The aim of the ABUCM is to improve the quality of patient care, establish high standards of clinical competence, and to uphold continuing education that is required for professional excellence. The ABUCM serves two interrelated functions: to certify the qualified candidates in the specialty of Urgent Care Medicine, and to ensure recognition of the board certification.