Summer is the time of swimming at the lake and long leisurely days on the golf course. Unfortunately, these are the days that also lead to sprained ankles, serious sunburns, and other incidents that can lead to frequent visits to urgent care centers. When a health condition does not warrant an expensive trip to a hospital emergency room, it is important to make sure that you consider the most affordable, reliable, and convenient care. By making the decision to visit a local walk in clinic you can find a way to make sure that you get the care that you need without breaking the bank.
What Is Considered Urgent Care Quality?
Fortunately, when you make the decision to go to an urgent care setting instead of a family physician or a hospital emergency room you will still find qualified doctors offering their services. For example, as many as 65% of all urgent care centers have a physician on-site at all times. This translates into the fact that 60% of all urgent care centers have a wait time of less than 15 minutes to see a physician or mid-level provider. Getting to quickly see someone who can treat you is a major advantage to visiting an urgent care that is nearby. Crowded family physician offices are full of germs and hospital emergency care rooms follow a triage approach when it comes to seeing patients. Knowing the you can get the quality care that you need means that you will be able to feel confident in the diagnosis that you are given.
What Is Considered Urgent Care Acceptable Wait Times?
No one wants to wait when they need to see a doctor, but the fact of the matter is that if you call in to see your family physician or pediatrician you will not likely get a convenient appointment time. In some cases, all you will get is the option to come in at the end of the day and wait for the doctor to fit you in. Many of us have spent long hours waiting to see a doctor for a diagnosis that is really quite simple. For this reason, it is often in your best interest to visit a walk in health clinic, a place where you can see a doctor without an appointment.
