Nobody has perfect health all of the time. We all get sick from time to time. Even more often perhaps, we’re prone to cuts and bruises, or even broken bones. In the past, this perhaps would have meant going to the doctor’s office or the emergency room, or perhaps even straight to a major hospital. There are drawbacks to all of these options — the typical medical clinic might not be right for your problem, or for that matter your specific situation. Today, however, there are may different urgent care locations on hand. Urgent care locations can offer after hours urgent care, and a long list of doctors ready and willing to help you. Yet many are confused about what urgent care centers have to offer. They believe that walk in clinics might give lesser care, or at the very least inconvenient care. This is not the case at all. Urgent care locations provide a number of different advantages that won’t be found at the typical emergency room or doctor’s office. Let’s look at a few of the reasons why an urgent care center may be the best option for you — not just medically, but financially and practically as well.
1. Expense
Many people imagine that emergency room visits are their only options. They don’t think that urgent care locations possibly offer good care at a good price. Many go to emergency rooms even when they don’t really need to, not realizing that they have alternatives. This means that for something as minor as a sprained ankle — an issue an estimated 25,000 Americans suffer from each day — you end up paying hundreds of dollars. For some, an emergency room visit could even mean a bill that costs thousands of dollars. With that being said, there are some scenarios in which an emergency room visit is the only option. But if you feel you can go to an urgent care center, you end up paying much less. Not only do four out of five urgent care centers provide fracture care — they also can help with things like prescriptions and sometimes even physical therapy. These are all things that people need, and they can get them without breaking the bank. This means avoiding months or even years of medical bills.
2. Convenience
Convenience is a major reason why people go to urgent care centers. If you don’t want to go to an emergency room, the doctor’s office is the alternative. But the doctor’s office usually has set hours, which aren’t always accommodating for people who have hectic schedules. Some don’t want to miss work to have an injury or illness looked at. This could mean, however, terrible long term consequences. The best thing a person can do to combat this issue is to treat it as quickly as possible. An urgent care center makes that convenient. As previously mentioned, many urgent care centers offer after hours services. It’s also estimated that about 85% of urgent care centers are open seven days a week.
3. Care Level
One of the main reasons why people choose urgent care centers is that they have a specific problem that needs treated. Some need the confidentiality required to treat things like STDs. Confidential testing can also be done at urgent care centers. Urgent care treatment is not lesser compared to the treatment you’d get at a doctor’s office or emergency room. Medical professionals are employed by urgent care centers — often times, doctors handle the care on their own. This adds to the overall value of the care you’re getting in a big way. When you combine this with the abovementioned perks, it’s no wonder so many people choose urgent care centers over emergency rooms in this day and age.
Now that you know a little bit more about urgent care centers, hopefully a few of your misconceptions have been dispelled. If you have an injury or illness, don’t hesitate to take advantage of what they have to offer.
