Common Reasons People Go to Urgent Care
Generally speaking, people are clueless about the difference between an urgent care facility and an emergency room. If you have a sore throat, ear infection, or a minor cut that requires stitches, do you go to an urgent care center, or does it merit a trip to the emergency department?
Life-threatening situations like seizures, severe burns, stroke symptoms, heart attack, and severe head injuries demand a visit to the emergency room (ER), where hospital personnel can respond to your condition with the proper medical equipment.
On the other hand, people with ailments, injuries, or other circumstances that aren’t life-endangering or don’t require immediate medical attention can head to an urgent care facility. And to give you a better understanding of this matter, here are common reasons why people go to urgent care:
No Need for Doctor’s Appointment
Often, urgent care facilities are walk-in clinics, so patients don’t need to schedule an appointment to consult a physician and receive treatment. Please take note, though, that some centers allow check-up appointments, so it’s better to call ahead so you can reserve your preferred slot.
Some facilities even offer online check-in, meaning you can head to their website and fill out the necessary information so that the medical staff can be ready when you arrive. In doing this, you are reserving your place in line, which can help you see a doctor faster.
Less Queueing
It’s a common scenario to arrive in an ER and see a queue of waiting patients. With a long line of people expecting medical attention, this means it will take hours before you get your turn.
On the other hand, according to the Urgent Care Association (UCA) of America, 80% of urgent care patients wait for only around 15 minutes before receiving caring assistance.
Yes, it still involves waiting—however, you’ll spend fewer hours in an urgent care than a hospital. Some units also operate at night and during weekends, so for people with busy schedules or who need to consult a doctor outside regular clinic hours, these units can provide you the efficient medical attention you need. However, not every urgent care operates outside of standard business hours, so check your local urgent care’s hours. If they are close and you still feel you need immediate medical attention, then you should go to an ER. Otherwise, wait until the next day.
Convenient
Like most hospitals, many urgent care facilities operate seven days a week. Some units begin seeing patients as early as 8 am. The UCA also states that there are roughly 9,000 urgent care centers spread around the United States.
There’s a huge chance that when you need medical attention, there will be one near you to provide treatment. Moreover, they also offer X-Rays, laboratory examinations, and other diagnostic services.
Low Cost
Another excellent reason to opt for an urgent care center is that they are more low-cost than hospitals. Of course, like hospitals and other clinics, urgent care facilities accept most health insurance plans.
See to it, though, that you’re seeing a facility that is an in-network provider to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses. Fees in these centers are substantially lower than when you avail treatment in an emergency department, allowing you to save money while managing your healthcare needs.
Well-Rounded Medical Care
The most frequent conditions examined in urgent care facilities are coughs, acute pharyngitis, acute sinusitis, acute bronchitis, and acute upper respiratory infection. Nevertheless, these centers employ doctors, and other medical personnel qualified to provide diagnosis and treatment in other various health cases.
For example, the complications listed below are conditions you can seek assistance from urgent care facilities:
- Urinary tract infections
- Diarrhea
- Minor sprains
- Eye irritation
- Flu
- Asthma
- Skin rashes
- Minor accidents and falls
- Mild back problems
- Dehydration
- Vomiting
- Minor burns
- STD testing
As seen above, these facilities can likewise provide immediate care for patients with varied medical needs. As a result, they can decongest ER waiting areas and see that people who really require prompt assistance will receive it as soon as possible.
Premium Service
Though urgent care centers may have smaller sites than the usual hospitals, despite this, know that these units can offer you high-quality care and treatment similar to the ones you’ll receive at leading prominent hospitals.
Takeaway
In essence, urgent care centers are your quick access to healthcare for non-life-threatening medical conditions that still need treatment within 24 hours.
These types of facilities are accessible, affordable, and convenient for everyone. Most of the time, patients requiring medical attention prefer consulting their regular attending physician. However, if there are appointment issues, then an urgent care center is your best option.
But don’t forget that these units aren’t emergency rooms. For medical situations needing immediate treatment such as heavy bleeding, heart attack, poisoning, pregnancy-related issues, and even sexual assault or child abuse problems, you must go straight to a hospital.
