Americans catch 1 billion colds each year. The probability that some of these colds will strike outside of doctors office hours is high. Luckily, there are plenty of urgent care facilities all over the country. Approximately 3 million patients in the U.S. will take advantage of these urgent care centers weekly.
Emergency rooms have increasingly become congested with patients that want immediate care, but do not have a life threatening illness. The 24 hour urgent care clinics have begun to solve this problem. Now patients that have an urgent medical problem can get treated without the hassle of waiting in an emergency room.
If you are concerned about the standard of care at a 24 hour urgent care center, you should know that they provide all of the services of a doctors office and some of the services a hospital could give you. Some of the conditions that can be treated at urgent care centers include sprains and strains, fractures, upper respiratory illnesses, gastrointestinal conditions like food poisoning, lacerations, and concussions. A 24 hour urgent care is also likely to provide blood work, lab testing, and even anonymous std testing.
If you are concerned about substandard service and urgent care cost, there is no need to worry. There is somewhere near 129,043 people in the United States who work for urgent care centers. Of these employees, there is a mix of physicians, nurse practitioners or physician assistants at at least two thirds of the clinics. Approximately 65 percent of centers have at least one physician working at all times. Most of these 24 hour urgent care offices will accept your insurance, and you will pay only the normal copay you would at your regular doctor.
Unless you are facing a life threatening illness or injury, it is time to find urgent care near you. You will ensure that you are seen quickly, and given proper care. There will be no more long waits in the emergency room to be seen for an urgent but non life threatening problem just because your doctors office is closed. Begin searching for a 24 urgent care near you now, so when that nasty cold hits on the weekend you know exactly where to go.
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I have always been told to go to the emergency room to get an x ray if I thought something was broken. The fact that urgent care is now doing x rays is great for a mom with three boys.
Because there are so many popping up all over the place I went to one and only waited 15 minutes and had my antibiotic that day.
Because there are so many popping up all over the place I went to one and only waited 15 minutes and had my antibiotic that day.
Because there are so many popping up all over the place I went to one and only waited 15 minutes and had my antibiotic that day.
Because there are so many popping up all over the place I went to one and only waited 15 minutes and had my antibiotic that day.
Because there are so many popping up all over the place I went to one and only waited 15 minutes and had my antibiotic that day.