Benefits of Urgent Care Centers
Urgent care centers provide treatment in the “middle ground” between seeing your primary care physician and going to an emergency room. Your doctor may be unable to help you promptly when you have a time-sensitive medical issue, and emergency rooms are for life- or limb-threatening conditions.
Consequently, urgent care clinics are a great option in many instances and an increasingly important part of healthcare. Some of the many advantages of urgent care centers are described below.
Urgent Care Can Save You Money
While you shouldn’t hesitate to go to an emergency room if you have an injury or illness that’s a threat to your life or limbs, emergency care is more expensive than primary care or urgent care. At an urgent care center, you get prompt assistance at a lower cost.
Urgent Care Can Save You Time
When you’re concerned about a medical issue, visiting an urgent care center can help you get answers quickly. Your primary care doctor must schedule their time days or weeks in advance and may be unable to fit you in promptly.
Urgent Care Centers Provide High-Quality Care
Urgent care centers are staffed, equipped, and trained to provide excellent care without delay. Despite that rapid response, the assessment and treatment you receive from the doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants, technicians, and other medical skilled medical professionals at an urgent care center meet the highest medical standards.
Urgent Care Centers Have Convenient Hours
People with busy schedules can find it difficult to see their primary care doctor during the workday. Urgent care centers typically have evening and weekend hours, making it easier to get the care you need. From an illness that suddenly worsens after hours to an injury at a Saturday afternoon soccer match, your local urgent care center has you covered.
Urgent Care Doesn’t Require an Appointment
You never know when an urgent medical issue will arise. Urgent care clinics help with that uncertainty by accommodating walk-in patients. You’re not required to make an appointment at an urgent care center.
Urgent Care Centers Provide a Wide Variety of Services
Urgent care centers can treat most medical issues that are time-sensitive but not life- or limb-threatening. That includes things like:
- Sprains and strains
- Simple broken bones
- Cuts and other minor wounds
- Minor burns
- Allergic reactions
- Ear infections
- Asthma attacks
- Pain in the knees, hips, back, shoulders, neck, and other areas
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Pink eye
- Sore throats
- Fever
- Upper respiratory and sinus infections
- Pneumonia and flu
- Insect bites and stings
And these are just examples of issues commonly seen by urgent care teams.
Learn More About the Benefits of Urgent Care Clinics from Baptist Health
Baptist Health has many urgent care clinics in the area. It’s a good idea to learn about our services and find a location near you. That way, if you ever have an urgent medical issue, you know where to go!
Next Steps and Useful Resources
Choosing Urgent Care or the Emergency Room
10 Common Urgent Care Procedures
Urgent Care for Minor Illnesses