Urgent care centers and walk-in health clinics are increasingly becoming a common choice for people who seek immediate medical attention for urgent, yet non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries. These health clinics cut out the hassle of scheduling an appointment with a primary care doctor and help keep hospital emergency rooms for those with a life-threatening emergency.
Here are the top four benefits of going to a walk-in health clinic:
1. Convenience: Walk-in clinics can prescribe antibiotics, perform X-rays and often do blood work as well – all without requiring an appointment or a long wait. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 1 billion visits to doctors annually in the United States; about 22 percent of those visits were for upper respiratory issues. Skip past the long waits with a walk-in clinic!
2. Extended hours: Walk-in and urgent care clinics offer extended hours of operation. Many are open seven days a week, and normally offer after hour care past 7 p.m.
3. Many options available: There are currently more than 8,500 walk-in clinics and urgent care centers in the U.S., and about 300 practices open each year. To find the best fit for you, online doctor’s office reviews are now available for you to research — in these reviews, patients rate and comment on their experiences at a doctor’s office, making your choice easier.
4. Inexpensive: Walk-in clinics and urgent care centers generally have lower insurance co-pays than an emergency room or doctor’s office visit does.
Keep in mind, however, that walk-in health clinics and urgent care centers shouldn’t be seen as a replacement for your general family doctor. General practice doctors can also develop a rapport with their patients that urgent care physicians usually can’t. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine researchers reported that about 78 percent of American patients want their doctors to shake hands upon meeting. Regular checkups with your doctor are still highly recommended to make sure your health is at its best, and you should consult your doctor if you feel you have a serious medical issue that needs to be addressed. To see more, read this: gonzaba.com
