Dr. Betsy Koickel has a theory about what makes urgent care work in a place like The Woodlands. It should feel less like a clinic and more like your neighborhood.

Koickel is the Interim Medical Director of Memorial Hermann-GoHealth Urgent Care, and she still practices medicine and works in urgent care in her own community. It is, she says, one of the most rewarding parts of her role.

"I love being connected to the people I serve, seeing neighbors, friends, and families both in the center and outside of it in everyday life," Koickel said. "These interactions are an integral part of our model because healthcare should be woven into the fabric of the community. Practicing medicine where people live, work, and raise their families creates a different kind of relationship and trust."

That relationship shows up in unexpected places. "It often reminds me of being a small-town doctor," she said. "I'll see patients at a Friday night football game, in the school pickup line, or at the grocery store, and those connections reinforce why community-based care is so important."

Memorial Hermann-GoHealth Urgent Care is a 50:50 joint venture partnership, a unique business entity formed by Memorial Hermann and GoHealth Urgent Care to deliver fast, convenient care for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries outside of an emergency room setting. Within the partnership, Memorial Hermann is responsible for clinical quality and care delivery, and GoHealth manages administrative operations and center staff. As Interim Medical Director, Koickel oversees initiatives that support clinical quality, enhance operational efficiency, and advance the mission, vision, and values of the partnership.

Houston residents are seeing more urgent care centers open closer to home, and many families are making them a regular part of their healthcare routine. According to data from the 2025 Urgent Care Pulse Check Survey, commissioned by Memorial Hermann-GoHealth Urgent Care and conducted by Wakefield Research, 39 percent of Houston residents said they were more likely to use urgent care that year because of new centers opening nearby, compared with 28 percent nationally.

The findings suggest that for many Houstonians, urgent care is no longer just a backup option. It's becoming a go-to option for treating common illnesses, minor injuries, seasonal conditions, and other non-emergency health concerns. Koickel points to a number of things that set the partnership apart. Centers are conveniently located throughout the region. Select locations provide care seven days a week until midnight. Patients can check in online, walk into a location, or book a virtual urgent care visit, giving families an alternative to a sometimes costly and time-intensive emergency room visit. Because the partnership runs through Memorial Hermann, patients can also receive priority connections to specialists within the Memorial Hermann network, and Memorial Hermann providers have direct access to a patient's electronic medical records.

Memorial Hermann-GoHealth is constantly evaluating patient care needs, including in communities where expansion of care may be beneficial. Earlier this summer, the partnership expanded access to convenient, affordable care by extending daily hours to midnight at its Katy Park and Sawyer Heights centers. With 28 locations throughout the Greater Houston area, including seven centers open to midnight daily, Memorial Hermann-GoHealth provides families access to a wide range of services.

Before walking in for the first time, there is one more thing worth knowing about how Houston approaches healthcare. Residents here tend to have a proactive health mindset, often seeking care at the very first sign of illness. According to the same 2025 survey, that is true of 57 percent of residents. Memorial Hermann-GoHealth provides families access to a wide range of services, including treatment for illnesses and injuries, on-site lab testing, X-rays, sports physicals, and virtual urgent care visits.

The best way for readers to reach Memorial Hermann-GoHealth Urgent Care is to visit gohealthuc.com/memorialhermann, where patients can find the location nearest them, along with answers and suggestions for common health concerns.