Say you’ve come down with a nasty sinus infection or sustained a minor burn while cooking. Your primary physician isn’t available to see you right away and your ailment isn’t severe enough for a trip to the ER. So where can you obtain the proper medical assistance? A medical care unit may be the answer. Here are some key advantages of urgent care.
What is an Urgent Medical Care Clinic?
An advanced urgent care clinic is a walk-in center that provides patients with medical care when they are unable to be seen by their primary doctor or their issues are not severe enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just under half (48%) of all adult ER patients who were not sick enough to be admitted to the hospital sought treatment at the ER because their physicians’ offices were closed. An urgent care facility provides a solution to this problem, with approximately one in five centers seeing more than 450 patients per week.
Here are some of the main benefits of an urgent care clinic
- Urgent Care Centers Are Cost Effective
Numerous insurance companies will cover trips to an urgent care facility. Before visiting one, however, it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company to find out which specific medical care centers are in-network.
- Urgent Care Centers Have Comprehensive Care
Urgent medical care centers offer services to a vast array of different medical issues including strep throat, wounds and cuts, UTIs, eye and ear ailments, allergy conditions, and more. Seventy percent of urgent care centers provide intravenous fluids when needed, 80% provide fracture care, and others also conduct simple laboratory work and X-rays.
The American Academy of Urgent Care states that urgent medical care units have both family medicine and emergency medicine components, meaning their doctors have a vast range of experience and expertise to treat patients.
- Urgent Care Centers Offer Extended Hours
Urgent care facilities often have extended hours, with two out of five remaining open until 9 pm or later. Many are also open on weekends, providing medical coverage around the clock.
If you are in need of a doctor, consider visiting a medical urgent care facility today.
