What if you didn’t have to wait for weeks for a doctor’s appointment? What if you could just walk in to a clinic with a minor or major injury and be seen by a doctor in less than half an hour? What if you had an alternative to the emergency room, for quality medical treatment that costs much less? All of these and more are reasons why more and more people are choosing urgent care clinics. Urgent care clinics are transforming healthcare and making it more convenient and accessible. High doctors ratings mean that the vast majority of people who use these services find the experience to be a good one and would recommend it to others.
Why pick urgent care?
There are plenty of good reasons to pick an urgent care clinic. Convenience, quality care, and trained and compassionate staff, are only some of the reasons. When you have a minor medical emergency, such as the flu or a fracture, it’s a time-saving alternative to the emergency room. A trip to the emergency room can be both expensive and stressful.
At the ER, you typically have to wait hours to see a doctor. They’re usually crowded and uncomfortable places, and even if you’re suffering from an injury or illness, it’s difficult to even find a place to sit. For minor medical emergencies, walk in clinics offer excellent services without the long wait and high costs.
Highly qualified and compassionate staff
All urgent care staff, including nurses, technicians and doctors, are highly qualified. There is a physician on duty at all times, and there isn’t a long wait to get a diagnosis. You don’t have to make an appointment weeks in advance to see a doctor.
Urgent care staff are well trained and experienced in providing comprehensive medical care, for everything from fractures to dizziness to chronic pain. About 80% of all urgent care centers have the facilities and personnel to treat injuries like fractures. If your condition or injury requires specialist attention, they will provide a referral. Consistently high doctors ratings point to the excellence of the care provided.
When to go to urgent care
For most illnesses and injuries, urgent care clinics can provide the treatment necessary. If you are experiencing a life threatening condition, you should call an ambulance or go to the emergency room. For most other conditions, you can go to a walk in clinic and expect to be seen by a doctor in less than half an hour.
In fact the most common conditions treated in walk in clinics are wounds and upper respiratory complaints. Many urgent care clinics also offer on site laboratory and diagnostic services, as well as pharmacy services, saving you the long wait for results and the extra trips. The clinics also offer flu shots and vaccines, sports and workplace physicals, and even physical therapy for chronic pain.
There are about 20,000 doctors practicing urgent care medicine in the U.S. at the present time. Their doctors ratings are consistently high, which indicates that patients are highly satisfied with the treatment they receive.