Urgent care, despite its name, doesn’t always have to be for urgent matters.
It doesn’t make sense to only seek out healthcare when you’re at your worst. This means you neglect the small, but still frustrating health problems that get worse right under your nose. An upset stomach that doesn’t seem to go away, a painful skin condition that itches terribly…these might not be for the emergency room, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be looked at. Urgent care centers are affordable locations that you can visit in a pinch. No matter how much you have on you or what your insurance plan is.
Never been to an urgent care center before? Here’s a simple primer to get you updated with today’s most flexible medical resource.
Many Americans Today Use Urgent Care Regularly
You might already know someone that’s visited an urgent care center before. This is thanks to their convenient location and low cost model, two great features that turn medical care into a breeze. American centers handle up to three patient care visits per hour. That’s as many as 50 visits per day, thanks to studies provided by the Urgent Care Association. There are thousands of convenient locations for you to choose from, all the better to treat your conditions as soon as possible.
Mild And Moderate Issues Will Be Treated Quickly
Do you have a persistent headache that’s shown no sign of abating? What about a urinary tract infection that only seems to get more painful by the day? You name the issue, your medical professional at a nearby clinic will be all too happy to help. The top five medical diagnoses given to urgent care centers back in 2016 were acute upper respiratory infections, acute infections, acute sinusitis, pharyngitis, and fever. According to recent studies, over 95% of patients who visit urgent care centers are in the right place for treatment.
You Don’t Have To Worry About High Medical Costs
Easily the biggest roadblock for Americans in the healthcare system is cost. How are you going to treat your health conditions when you have the potential for a huge bill? The urgent care model is designed, first and foremost, for accessibility. A recent study found one of the main reasons patients chose urgent care centers over other medical facilities was because of being more convenient than conventional options. A 2016 study determined up to 75% of urgent care patients, at any given time, reported their care as either excellent or good.
Preventative Care Will Keep You Covered For The Future
To reiterate the first point — you don’t have to visit your urgent care West Orange location only when you’re feeling off. You can also visit for preventative care measures to keep you healthy. Consider asking a medical professional about catching up on your vaccines. Ask for a late pap smear or a general physical to make sure you’re on the up and up. A 2016 study saw more than a quarter of American patients reporting they’d visited an urgent care center within the last two years or so.
Wait Times Are Short And Locations Are Plentiful
It’s not too good to be true. Alongside preventative care and a low cost, you can expect a quick wait time on top of it all. The Urgent Care Association released a Benchmarking Report Summary in 2017, finding 90% of all urgent care centers provide wait times of 30 minutes or less. This means you’re in and out the front door quickly, helping you get back on your feet so you’re not taken out of your workweek. Chalk that up with several locations — over 7.000 — and you’re good to go no matter where you are.
Primary care can be your regular doctor…or it can be a visit at your local urgent care. Look up one in your area so you’re never caught without help in 2019.
