Many Americans choose to go to hospital emergency rooms when they become injured or ill after their physician’s normal business hours. When these situations aren’t life-threatening, they can receive the quality care they need at a local urgent care facility instead.
Currently, there are 20,000 physicians that practice Urgent Care Medicine, which is a growing specialty. It’s important to note that an urgent care clinic can address many of the of health concerns that tend to be associated with traditional hospital emergency rooms. Furthermore, they also have advanced diagnostic tools, laboratory services, and other benefits.
Clinic care is available throughout the week for approximately 85% of urgent care facilities. Many of these facilities are open to provide clinic care before and after traditional office hours. There is also less waiting time to see a physician or mid-level provider, and the costs associated with each visit are usually a fraction of those for treatment at a hospital emergency room.
Urgent care facilities also offer physical therapy and occupational health services. As a result, they can make a substantial difference for people suffering with sports injuries, work-related stress, and other causes of sporadic or chronic pain.
Physical therapy can be effective with a variety of issues and assist with alleviating pain and increasing mobility. Furthermore, when someone receives regular physical therapy, it’s possible that this will increase their daily activity levels. This may be particularly important with the Baby Boomer generation.
While many Baby Boomers may engage in regular physical activities, 1 out of every 10 have claimed that they only do so a few days out of the month. Chronic pain may contribute to some Baby Boomers not engaging in the level of aerobic exercise that they need on a weekly basis.
Chronic low-back pain, for example, is a common complaint in the United States. Approximately 69% of the population claim that if affects their daily lives. It’s surprising to note that 40% of the people suffering with chronic low-back pain aren’t receiving medical attention from a physician or physical therapist.
In order to alleviate their lower-back pain, around 4 out of every 10 people engage in exercise. While this may prove to be effective for some individuals, it’s still important to be under the care of a medical professional.
Many people that suffer with low-back pain may avoid seeking medical assistance due to the potential costs associated with treatment. A recent study showed, however, that when patients received early physical therapy, their total medical costs were $2,736.23 lower.
If you’re experiencing chronic pain, contact a local urgent care facility to learn more about their services. Since you can receive expert clinic care at a facility close to you, why prolong your suffering when there is medical help available?
