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by: Dr. Brent Nickischer
With high co-pays and longer wait times, a trip to the E.R. can start to sound unnecessary. A patient may think, “The E.R. is such a hassle, and I’m not sure I need it. Do I really need someone to take a look at my ankle? Maybe the pain will go away in a few days.” At the same time, patients don't want to wait until Monday to hopefully get in to see their primary care physician when their ankle quickly swells up to twice it's normal size and they begin to question whether it's just a sprain or something more serious.
Enter the urgent care facility: a place where a patient can receive comprehensive medical care, seven days a week, as well as during the evening. And the good news is today’s urgent care centers are loaded with medical capabilities. Urgent care centers offer:
- Suturing and stitching of non-life threatening wounds
- Setting, splinting and casting of broken bones
- Wound dressing and care
- Some surgical procedures
- Vaccines
- Imaging on-site (board-certified radiologists using computerized X-rays)
- On-site blood work and labs
- EKGs
- Pharmacies on-site
- IV fluid administration
Today, there are almost 9,000 urgent care facilities across the U.S…and approximately 300 new ones open each year. Because they tend to be newer facilities, their medical equipment is modern and includes CPAP, catheterization, glucose monitoring and more. The facilities are designed around current medical practices, with space used more efficiently and comfortably than in traditional hospitals that often struggle to keep pace with modern medical practices.
With injuries that aren’t life-threatening but are serious enough to require immediate attention, patients should consider urgent care facilities. They aren't equipped or staffed to handle major life-threatening injuries or surgeries, but they are the perfect solution for painful or frightening injuries that demand attention - today.
In fact, many urgent care centers offer more than just unscheduled walk-in medical care. From drivers' and school sports physicals to pre-employment screenings, random drug and alcohol testing and workers’ compensation services, urgent care centers have numerous services not just for individuals but for businesses as well. And with some urgent care centers offering primary care medicine, they have literally come to be a convenient one-stop-shop approach to healthcare.
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