There are a few basic human needs that we need to survive: food, water, and shelter name some of the most essential. In addition to these needs, access to affordable family health care ought to be considered a priority: this is the philosophy behind medical walk in clinics. Since 2008, the number of urgent care facilities has increased from 8,000 to over 9,300. Today there are an estimated 20,000 physicians who practice in urgent care medicine; here are some reasons why so many Americans are making the switch to urgent family health care.
Extended Hours
Illness can strike anyone at any time, so it only makes sense that health care providers ought to be ready at all hours to help patients. Surprisingly, only 29% of primary care physicians have after-hours coverage, meaning that patients are expected to wait until morning or pay hefty emergency room bills. In contrast, many after hours urgent care facilities are open until 9 pm with some emergency walk in clinics offering 24 hour coverage.
Faster Care
At its best, waiting at the doctor’s office could be considered a minor inconvenience; at its worst it can leave patients feeling neglected. Urgent care is notorious for its ability to quickly see patients; around 60% of all urgent care centers have a wait time of less than 15 minutes. As of 2011, the average urgent care center saw average of 342 satisfied patients per week — without urgent care many of these patients would be forced to rely on emergency rooms for care.
Professional Family Health Care
Although faster isn’t necessarily better, it is in the case of urgent care. This is due to the fact that nearly 50% of urgent care centers are owned by a physician or a group of physicians. These individuals are familiar with the medical field and genuinely want to bring the highest-quality of care to patients quickly and at an affordable cost. Up to 65% of urgent care centers have a physician on staff at all times and many are equipped to provide care for fractures, administer intravenous fluids, and write prescriptions. As urgent care catches on, we are coming ever-closer to providing affordable health care options to all Americans — it might be time to see what an urgent care center can do for you. Read more about this topic at this link.