Not all injuries and illnesses need the same attention.
A bout with the common cold may require a few days’ worth of bed rest. A headache that persists after a week, on the other hand, may require you visit your local urgent care facility. Knowing how to differentiate between your healthcare is key to receiving quality treatment and saving money at the same time. Many Americans today are frustrated about medical bills, with some being thousands of dollars in debt and many fearing the loss of their savings from just one moderate illness. Your community health clinic can provide accurate check-ups, preventative care and so much more.
Learn more about the benefits of an urgent care facility below.
STD Testing
It’s important to be tested for STDs on a regular basis, even if you haven’t been sexually active for a while. This is because STDs can be insidious and manifest even through other forms of contact, including various strains of herpes. You don’t have to worry about your information being shared, either, as confidential STD testing is just one of many standards your urgent care facility is held to. According to recent data the United States is expected to seek out an additional 50,000 primary care physicians by the time 2025 arrives.
Flu Shots
Another form of preventative care includes flu shots. The flu is a virus that is constantly evolving year after year, meaning you need to update your immunity in order to keep it at bay. The flu is more virulent than the common cold and can last for over a week. It’s particularly harmful to those with compromised immune systems, very young children and the elderly. Keep in mind that your flu shot needs at least two weeks to start working, so make sure to wash your hands frequently, cough into your elbow and avoid sharing straws.
Injury Treatment
Your urgent care facility is devoted to providing treatment for minor to moderate injuries. When the emergency room can be extremely expensive, leaving you in an even worse spot when you come back out, your family health care setting can provide you the same quality of care for less than a third of the cost. Between 2003 and 2009 the mean wait time in emergency rooms went up by a quarter, from 45 minutes to nearly an hour. Over half of urgent care settings, on the other hand, often have a wait time of 15 minutes or less.
Illness Treatment
It’s not just burns, cuts and scrapes that can be treated. Minor to moderate illnesses can also be supported with the aid of your health clinic for women or health clinic for children. These include persistent nausea, painful migraines and unusual pains you can’t explain. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey found that the average ER visitor pays a total cost of $1,300 as well as a mean cost of $600. Compare this to a simple check-up at the urgent care clinic, which can remain below $200 for a check-up, medication and even a referral should your condition be more severe.
General Referrals
When your condition ends up being too severe or difficult to diagnose, your urgent care facility can still refer you to another location to make sure you’re given the treatment you deserve. Healthcare takes on many forms today in order to ensure everyone is accommodated regardless of their budget. This includes the free walk in clinic that doesn’t require a prior appointment. This includes hybrid models like the emergency walk in clinic for severe issues. You can even find specialty locations designed for women’s health, children or those in need of chronic pain care.
In need of assistance? Family care physicians are ready to provide.
