Urgent care near me Key points
- Urgent care centers provide medical care outside traditional physician hours and are an alternative to emergency rooms.
- These centers offer services like immunizations and x-rays, making them a convenient choice for non-emergency medical needs.
- Selecting an urgent care center involves considering factors like insurance acceptance, services offered, and location.
- Urgent care centers are not equipped for certain medical conditions like loss of consciousness and heart attacks, which require emergency room care.
- Urgent care is a crucial part of the U.S. healthcare system, providing an alternative for uninsured patients and those needing care outside of regular office hours.
What is Urgent Care?
If your regular physician is closed but you do not need emergency care, then an urgent care center is a good choice. They provide extended hours and, in most areas of the country, offer convenient locations for patients.
Urgent care centers are also a great choice for people who need immunizations. From the influenza shot to the bird flu vaccine, urgent care centers can inform and immunize patients.
While some people go to the ER for broken bones, they can choose urgent care locations with x-ray machines. It is much less expensive than an ER, and the service is much faster.
How to Choose an Urgent Care Center?
Urgent care centers are each different and are owned by different parties. While some locations offer x-rays and board certified doctors, others might not have those options. When you choose a location, you should consider the type of care you need, the services that are offered at the location, any sort of patient ratings or reviews about the specific center or even whether or not the location is certified.
A few practical factors to consider when when selecting an urgent care center are as follows:
- Determine whether or not they accept your insurance
- Understand what type of providers work at the urgent care center
- See if their hours of operation work for your schedule
- Find if their location is convenient to you
- Determine if they allow for advance bookings
- Ask if they perform the specific treatment, test or service you are looking for
- Make sure they will share medical records with your primary care provider
You can use the online search tools at Solv and filter capabilities to find an urgent care location that meets your needs. Check online to see if they allow online check-ins for appointments, as many centers now have that service.
When Should I to Go to an Emergency Room?
Knowing when to go to an emergency room is important. Urgent care centers are not equipped for certain medical conditions. Here are examples of care that should be received from emergency rooms:
- Loss of Consciousness
- Labor and birthing
- Uncontrollable Bleeding
- Heart Attack or Chest Pain
- Stroke
Urgent care is an important aspect of medical care in the United States today. It offers uninsured patients a choice other than emergency rooms, and it offers extended hours for people who need care on weekends or after five at night.
FAQs
What is the purpose of urgent care centers?
Urgent care centers provide medical care during extended hours when traditional physicians are closed and for conditions that don't require an emergency room.
What services do urgent care centers typically offer?
Urgent care centers often offer services like immunizations and x-rays. However, the services can vary by location.
How should I choose an urgent care center?
When choosing an urgent care center, consider factors like whether they accept your insurance, the type of providers they have, their hours of operation, and their location.
Can I go to an urgent care center for any medical condition?
No, urgent care centers are not equipped for certain serious conditions like loss of consciousness, uncontrollable bleeding, heart attacks, or strokes. These require emergency room care.
Are urgent care centers a good option for uninsured patients?
Yes, urgent care centers can provide a more affordable option for uninsured patients compared to emergency rooms, particularly for non-emergency medical needs.
Do urgent care centers accept insurance?
Yes, many urgent care centers do accept insurance. However, it's important to check with the specific center to ensure they accept your insurance before receiving care.
Can urgent care centers perform x-rays?
Yes, some urgent care centers have x-ray machines and can perform x-rays for diagnosing conditions like broken bones.
Do all urgent care centers offer the same services?
No, services can vary between urgent care centers. Some may offer x-rays and have board certified doctors, while others may not. It's important to check what services are offered at a specific location before choosing an urgent care center.
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Medically reviewed
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History
Solv’s team of medical writers and experts review and update our articles when new information becomes available.
July 08 2018
Written by Solv Editorial Team
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Rob Rohatsch, MD
Solv’s team of medical writers and experts review and update our articles when new information becomes available.
July 08 2018
Written by Solv Editorial Team
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Rob Rohatsch, MD
