- This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 3 months ago by .
-
Posts
-
I see these popping up all over the place how do they differ from an emergency room?
Never been to one, but I think it’s something in between an emergency room and a regular physician’s office. Like for things that aren’t urgent enough for emergency rooms, but too urgent for your regular doctor (unless your doctor can see you on-the-fly).
The idea is to clear up emergency rooms for real emergencies.
Also the copay is usually lower than emergency rooms.
Urgent care is for non-life threatening urgent care. Something that you would otherwise go to primary care doctor for but they may not have appointments available soon enough.
The advantage is for these non-emergency visits colds, other minor infections like UTI’s, sprained joints etc, the wait is considerably shorter.
ubiquitin, you are absolutely right. They have better hours and require no appointments. I used one for the first time when I called my doctor with what ultimately turned out to be bronchitis on a Tuesday. After being told I couldn’t be seen until Thursday ( despite my pleading how sick I was ) I went to a local Urgicenter In less than an hour I was seen, diagnosed and had medication called into my pharmacy..
My local hospital of choice operates 7 of these centers. All of my doctors/surgeons have sold their practices to this same hospital.
So, when I have an occurrence that needs immediate attention, or I don’t feel like waiting for an appointment with my internist, I head there. They are open 7 days each week from 8 am to 8 pm.
They have access to all of my medical records.
I pay a $20 co-pay to see my primary physician, and $25 to use urgent care.
Why wait until Monday to try to make a doctor’s appointment if you think you have a sinus infection? For $5 more I can book an appointment on line, not have to wait when I show up and start a Z-Pak treatment that day.ubiquitin,
The advantage is for these non-emergency visits colds, other minor infections like UTI’s, sprained joints etc, the wait is considerably shorter.
I agree. The flip side of this is that while urgent care clinics are set up to quickly get you out the door with treatments for routine things like ear infections, sinus infections, minor injuries, etc., they are not a replacement for comprehensive medical care. They may not be the best destination for symptoms that are a bit more out of the box, or chronic.
Avram
I agree completly
the reverse is also an issue. Peopel have to know the signs of real emergencies like Stroke/Heart attack for which Urgent care is not the appropriate place either.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.