Everyone wants to feel that they are living their best life. Of course, in today’s day and age there are plenty of things that have the potential to get in the way of that, from misguided goals to unfortunate circumstances. And then, there are those unexpected bumps in the road that seem to throw everything off kilter. Sometimes these unexpected turns come in the form of an injury or illness that takes you out of the figurative game, and in this country, health issues can become quite costly, very quickly.
In order to address these problems, and attempt to alleviate both the issues of surprise health issues and the expenses that come along with them, there has been a new trend growing in the medical sector. For quite some time, a broken leg or a sudden, severe ailment would mean a trip to the emergency room. But these days, medical care for even those serious issues can be provided at urgent care facilities that often cost a fraction of the price that comes with that emergency room visit.
From medical tests to crucial treatments
Urgent care facilities are not meant to replace your primary physician or a hospital stay, if that is what is needed. But they have done a great job of taking some of the pressure off of emergency rooms everywhere, and giving people in need of quality treatment more options for places to go. On average, a child will catch somewhere between six and 10 colds every year. Sometimes, this can be handled at home. But other times, the need to see a doctor comes at a time that doesn’t fall into the normal working hours of your regular doctor.
Many facilities are open longer than a regular doctor’s office, and there are many that are open every day of the week. Nearly 66% of these facilities have a staff comprised of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. In addition, about 65% of these centers have one or more doctor at the facility at all times. Broken bones can be set, tests can be run, IV fluids can be administered. Your health does not always cooperate with the business hours of your doctor’s office, and having options can make a big difference.
Don’t break the bank to stay healthy
There are plenty of people who would rather never set foot in a medical clinic at all. Many people rely on home remedies or over the counter medication. Far too often, this self reliance is born of necessity, as going to a medical office or center is too expensive. But there are times when these remedies are simply not enough, and urgent care centers help to make those visits more affordable. It has been estimated that the typical visit to an emergency center will cost the visitor around $1,500. On the other hand, urgent care facilities typically cost an average of below $150, depending on the reason for the visit and what time of treatment is required. It is no wonder why more and more people are heading to those facilities rather than racking up enormous bills at emergency departments.
You want to keep yourself and your family healthy. It would be great if it were possible for everyone to do that on their own, and find a quick fix to be feeling back to normal before missing any work, school, or time spent on leisure, recreation, and adventure. But the world we live in does not make that a possibility. Affordable medical treatment should be a right that everyone has access to, and creating places that move us closer to the goal of health and happiness for all will only benefit us in the long run.
