With over 20,000 practicing urgent care physicians and 9,000 urgent care clinics scattered across the United States, it’s clear that urgent care clinics are quickly becoming the popular alternative to emergency rooms and general practitioners. This is due to many reasons. Firstly, urgent care is affordable. For an individual with a high co-pay or no health insurance, a trip to the emergency room can cost thousands of dollars. Alternatively, urgent care can cost you a lot less out-of-pocket. Urgent care is also convenient. These clinics are almost always walk in clinics, with weekend and night hours and no appointment needed.
But what are the best reasons to go to urgent care? While many go to walk in clinics for a number of maladies, these 3 conditions are ideal for the services offered by urgent care physicians:
- A Non-Emergency Emergency While urgent care clinics are often a viable alternative to the emergency room, this is not always the case. Ailments such as broken bones and deep lacerations should always be kept to emergency rooms. But otherwise, urgent care clinics can save you a great deal of time and help you tremendously. This includes stitches, rashes, and minor burns and cuts.
- Flu Shots Flu shots are essential for individuals from all walks of life. To get a flu shot, all you need to do is visit your local urgent care center. With short wait times, your visit to get a flu shot is often and in-and-out procedure, leaving you time to go about your day however you so wish.
- The Common Cold Can’t stop sneezing? Visit an urgent care center. They will take a throat culture, asses your symptoms and help give you the right diagnosis to get your health back on the right track. They can even provide pre-packaged prescriptions, saving you a trip to the pharmacy.