Urgent care near me 
Key Points
- Urgent care centers and emergency rooms provide many of the same services but differ in cost, wait times, and the severity of conditions they can treat. Urgent care centers typically handle less severe conditions like the flu, sprains, and after-hours care, while emergency rooms are equipped for major trauma, heart attacks, and uncontrollable bleeding.
- The average cost for a visit to an urgent care center ranges from $71-125, while an emergency room visit averages at $1,318. The wait time at urgent care centers is also significantly less, with patients typically seen within 15-45 minutes, compared to the average 2.4-hour wait at an emergency room.
- Both urgent care centers and emergency rooms are staffed with healthcare providers, including doctors and nurses. Some urgent care centers may also have nurse practitioners in lieu of doctors.
- Insurance typically covers visits to both urgent care centers and emergency rooms, but copays are usually cheaper at urgent care centers. Both types of facilities can provide x-rays, medication, IVs, and treatment plans.
- Despite their differences, neither urgent care centers nor emergency rooms are equipped to deal with non-emergency, chronic conditions, which should be managed by a primary care physician. It's important to understand these differences to make informed decisions about where to seek care.
Urgent care centers are different from emergency rooms in many ways. While
they provide many of the same services, they do not have the same pricing
schedules or wait times. Here is information you need to know about the
similarities and differences.
Emergency Rooms and Urgent Care Differences
Here are the types of services urgent care center cover:
- Flu or common cold
- Immunizations (such as flu shots)
- Fever, headaches, cough, sneezing and chills
- Sprains
- After-hours care
Here are some of the services that require an emergency room:
- Major Trauma or Accident
- Loss of Consciousness
- Heart Attack or Chest Pain
- Uncontrollable Bleeding
The main differences between an urgent care center and an emergency room is that while an ER could treat any of the urgent care issues, it is not recommended because emergency rooms are busier and more expensive. Also, it is important to note that urgent care centers may not be able to treat the illnesses listed for emergency rooms. That said, of the top diagnosis at both urgent care centers and emergency rooms, nearly 50% of them are the same.
The major difference in price between an urgent care center and emergency room visit is that the average urgent care visit costs patients $71-125 for basic care, with additional costs added for shots, x-rays, and labs. The average emergency room visit costs $1,318.
The average emergency room has a wait time of 2.4 hours, whereas urgent care
centers are able to see walk-in patients within 15-45 minutes
. However, that
wait time does not express the time patients will spend waiting for services
while in the doctor's office. In most cases, an urgent care center helps
patients through the system much faster, as its care is more limited and
specific.
Patients in ERs can expect to wait hours in their rooms if a more traumatic case enters the ER. In urgent care centers, patients rarely experience this type of issue, as major traumas are directed to ERs.
Emergency Rooms and Urgent Care Similarities
Both emergency rooms and urgent care centers are staffed with compassionate
health care providers. In most cases both facilities will have
doctors and
nurses available. Occasionally an urgent care center will have RNs or
NPs in
lieu of doctors
. Before you go, you should know the difference between doctors and nurse practitioners.
In most cases, your insurance will cover either an urgent care center or an emergency room. Exceptions include unnecessary visits and out-of-network facilities. However, patients should be aware that their co-pay is based on the facility they visit. It is usually much cheaper to go to urgent care centers than ERs.
Many urgent care centers offer x-rays, just like emergency rooms. In some areas, urgent care centers have MRIs, CAT scans, and in-house laboratories just like hospitals. Both urgent care centers and ERs are able to give patients shots, medications, IVs, and even treatment plans.
Neither ERs nor urgent care centers are equipped to deal with non-emergency,
chronic conditions. Patients with chronic needs such as depression or diabetes
need to be seen by a primary care physician.
Being informed about the differences and similarities between these kinds of care is important. Whether you choose to receive care from an urgent care center or an emergency room, it is important to follow-up with additional treatments as necessary. Ready to find urgent care near you?
Frequently asked questions
What services do urgent care centers typically provide?
Urgent care centers typically provide services for common illnesses and minor injuries, such as the flu, cold, fever, headaches, cough, sneezing, chills, sprains, and after-hours care.What conditions require a visit to the emergency room instead of an urgent care center?
Conditions that require a visit to the emergency room include major trauma or accident, loss of consciousness, heart attack or chest pain, and uncontrollable bleeding.What is the average cost of an urgent care visit compared to an emergency room visit?
The average cost of an urgent care visit ranges from $71-125 for basic care, with additional costs for shots, x-rays, and labs. In contrast, the average emergency room visit costs $1,318.How do the wait times at urgent care centers compare to those at emergency rooms?
The average wait time at an emergency room is 2.4 hours, while urgent care centers typically see walk-in patients within 15-45 minutes.Are both emergency rooms and urgent care centers staffed with doctors and nurses?
Yes, both emergency rooms and urgent care centers are staffed with health care providers, including doctors and nurses. However, an urgent care center may sometimes have RNs or NPs instead of doctors.Will my insurance cover visits to both urgent care centers and emergency rooms?
In most cases, insurance will cover visits to both urgent care centers and emergency rooms. However, co-pays may be higher for emergency rooms, and some visits may not be covered if they are deemed unnecessary or if the facility is out-of-network.Do urgent care centers offer the same diagnostic services as emergency rooms?
Many urgent care centers offer similar diagnostic services as emergency rooms, including x-rays, and in some cases, MRIs, CAT scans, and in-house laboratories.Can urgent care centers and emergency rooms treat chronic conditions?
No, neither urgent care centers nor emergency rooms are equipped to deal with non-emergency, chronic conditions. These should be managed by a primary care physician.
LinkedIn
![Care Continuum: Where to Go When Your Sick or Injured [INFOGRAPHIC]](https://d1kve3ll6vvkpr.cloudfront.net/dir/media/W1siZiIsIjIwMTQvMDYvMDUvMTJfNDNfMzhfODI1X3doZXJlX3RvX2dvLmpwZyJdLFsicCIsInRodW1iIiwiODAweDQxNyMiXSxbInAiLCJlbmNvZGUiLCJqcGciLCItcXVhbGl0eSA5NSJdXQ/file.jpg?basename=Care+Continuum%3A+Where+to+Go+When+Your+Sick+or+Injured+%5BINFOGRAPHIC%5D&sha=403eee84817f83c2)
