When To Use An Urgent Care Center

There are times when you need medical care promptly although the condition itself is not life threatening. Such a situation brings with it a number of complications. Since the problem is not life threatening, you cannot rush into the emergency room. On the other hand, the matter is urgent and simply does not allow the delay caused by long waiting periods. Examples of such situations include sprained ankles, burns and minor injuries, occupational injuries, seasonal allergies, pink eye, ear infections and so on. Fortunately, prompt medical care is provided to such patients through urgent care centers.

The concept of providing immediate medical help for pressing conditions through urgent care centers was initiated way back in the 1970s when patients required immediate access to unscheduled medical attention. Today, there are more than 20,000 urgent care centers in the US.

Urgent care centers have become popular because they offer viable and convenient access to medical care. Also, many of these health care centers offer their services outside regular business hours. Some are even open during the weekends.

There is another reason for the popularity of urgent medical care. Emergency rooms are typically quite expensive, even though they are overcrowded. On the other hand, urgent care centers are highly cost effective and the care they provide is affordable. In addition to this, these care centers also accept major insurance plans, thus offering medical coverage to patients seeking urgent medical care. Although the services rendered are affordable, urgent care centers are manned by Board Certified doctors with several years of experience. There is no need to worry about the quality of care received at such centers. Thus, urgent care centers provide access to well equipped, high quality medical care minus long hours of waiting and pricey bills.

As is obvious, urgent medical care centers are ideal for a number of emergencies. But, when is the right time to approach an urgent care center? Minor illnesses, injury, routine health examination, immunization, occupational injury, sudden allergy attacks are some of the reasons to visit an urgent care center.

A patient may visit an urgent care center in these cases:

- Requires care for an acute or minor illness or injury
- School or employment physicals
- Health examinations
- Sudden care for a chronic medical condition
- Disease management

Urgent care centers are ideal when the patient’s doctor is not available, as in the nights or during the weekends. However, if the condition is life threatening, the patient must go to the ER for immediate medical care.