If you or someone you know is injured or ill, you need to know where the best location is to go to, in order to seek proper treatment. While there are primary doctor offices and emergency rooms, you may also consider an urgent care center. If the situation is life threatening, or an injury is severe you should head to the nearest emergency room location; however, if it is not life threatening, you may want to consider seeking out one of your nearest urgent care locations.
Choosing Urgent Care
Depending on the situation, and what you need medically, you may want to choose an urgent care location over your usual doctors office. Many clinics take walk ins, and the wait is often much less than if you were to seek treatment in the ER.
Here are somethings to check when researching urgent care locations.
- Know where your nearest urgent care center is, and how to get to it quickly.
- Check with them to make sure they accept your insurance, or are in your network.
- See all the injuries, illnesses, and treatments they are capable of covering.
- Know their hours; some are open 24, but others close at a certain time. Know this before heading out.
- Check online to see if they have appointment booking available on their website.
Urgent Care Locations
If you are injured or ill, you need to know where to go for treatment quickly. Make sure you know the easiest route to your clinic, and unless absolutely necessary pick a location that is closest to you.
Insurance
Insurance usually will cover urgent care treatment, provided it is in network; however, the amount of copay required may be different than in you went to a primary physician. It is worth noting that in the event of a non-life threatening illness or injury, urgent care centers will usually cost much less than a trip to the emergency room.
Clinic Hours
Urgent care clinics have different hours, and it is important to know just when the clinic near you is open. While some are open 24 hours, there are some that also close at other times and re-open in the morning. Knowing this can help you determine where to go if you have a late night medical issue.
Appointments
While it’s not necessary at most clinics, it can help you lower your wait times even more. Urgent care center wait times, are usually much less than emergency rooms, with many patients receiving treatment within an hour. However, if you have the option, booking an appointment can help make the experience even smoother once you get there.
Urgent care centers can be a great solution if you have a non-life threatening injury or illness. Make sure you know where the closest center is to you, and how you can get there quickly should the need arise. If you haven’t already, take the time to look for yourself and consider what options would be best for you and your family.
