Urgent Care Clinics

Urgent care clinics, also known as immediate care or after hours care, provide a fast, convenient and affordable alternative to going to an emergency room. There are more than 7500 of these care clinics in the United States alone.  These clinics save you both time and money compared to an emergency room.  You can go when it suits your busy schedule or when your doctor's office is closed or can't fit you in.  You can be seen without an appointment. Patients are treated in the order they arrive or register. Urgent care clinics are not open all the time, so if you need help and it is not a true emergency, call first. Get the telephone number, hours they are open and location, and keep that information available in the house (or on your phone).  Urgent care clinics are excellent places to get care for minor illness or injury, including colds, coughs, infections, headaches, sprains, rashes, and burns. An urgent care clinic must also have on-site diagnostic services, including blood collection for tests and X-rays. Healthcare practitioners in the urgent care setting can give you your prescription before you leave the clinic.  Many insurance companies provide coverage for urgent care services. You may have a minimal co-payment or deductible, but it is usually much less expensive than an emergency room visit. Sometimes the cost is equal to or even less than going to your doctor.

You still need to visit your doctor for chronic conditions such as diabetes management, hypertension, maintenance drugs, routine health physicals or child visits, etc. Urgent care practices treat the problem at hand, not your all over health. Your general healthcare should be directed to your primary physician's office.  Remember though, that if a medical problem is life-threatening, call 911.