If you’ve ever had to see a doctor, your visit may have gone something like this: You arrive at the office and are greeted by an empty waiting room upon entering.
Then, it begins. Your name is called, and you walk down one hall after another until only one door is left — which leads to the doctor’s appointment room. This has been happening since before we were born. But things are changing!
With medical costs rising yearly, patients are looking for alternatives to provide the same services promptly. Urgent Care Centers or urgent care clinics are an essential alternative to regular doctor’s office visits that save time and money.
There are many reasons why patients choose to receive healthcare services in an urgent care center. These reasons can range from convenience, wait times, or even the cost of getting medical assistance. Let us look at why people are switching to urgent care facilities from their primary care providers.
Top Reasons For Choosing Urgent Care Facilities over A Doctor’s Office In 2022
When you go to an urgent care facility, you’ll get the same care level as you at a doctor’s office. But some key differences make urgent care facilities more convenient for many people.
Here are a few of those reasons:
1. They Know You from Head to Toe
When you go to an urgent care center, you can expect that your doctor will know everything about you from head to toe! Because critical care facilities are typically small and have fewer patients than a traditional doctor’s office, doctors spend more time with each patient than at most other medical facilities.
This allows them to ask questions about what is bothering them and how it started. In turn, they can get a better idea of what might be causing your symptoms and how quickly they can treat them, without waiting days or weeks for results from tests like blood work or X-rays.
2. They Have Flexible Hours
Many urgent care facilities stay open longer than your typical doctor’s office — sometimes as late at 9 p.m., which is great if you work during regular business hours or have kids who go to school during the day.
They also offer weekend hours, so if something comes up on Saturday or Sunday morning when most doctors’ offices are closed, you’ll still be able to get help fast without waiting until Monday morning.
3. Fewer Hassles
When you need an urgent care facility, you don’t want to wait weeks for an appointment, fill out a bunch of paperwork, or even have to drive to another town for treatment. The last thing that most people want is more hassle when they’re already feeling under the weather.
Urgent Care facilities make it easier to get treated when you need it most. Even better is that they don’t require any appointments! You can walk in whenever it’s convenient for you and get treated immediately.
4. Cheaper Than Going to the Emergency Room
If you think going to an emergency room is expensive, wait until you see how much it costs if you have an emergency on the weekend or after hours! An urgent care facility is much more affordable than an emergency room for minor injuries and illnesses such as colds or sore throats.
You won’t have to worry about paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for treatment; most urgent care facilities charge on a sliding scale based on income, so everyone can afford their services without breaking the bank!
5. Accessibility for All Patients
Urgent care centers are open 7 days a week and offer extended hours. This means they can accommodate all types of patients, including those who work during traditional business hours and those who have off-hours jobs (e.g., overnight shift workers).
Additionally, most urgent care centers have extended weekend hours so that no one has to miss out on needed medical attention due to work or school commitments.
6. Flexible Hours That Fit Your Schedule
One of the most significant benefits of choosing an urgent care facility instead of your primary care physician is that you don’t need an appointment — you can walk in at any time during business hours (including evenings and weekends).
Because most urgent care facilities are near major highways and freeways, it’s easy for people from all walks of life to get there quickly when they need medical attention.
7. Urgent Care Facilities Keep Better Track of Your Medical History
Urgent Care facilities keep better track of your medical history. When you go to an urgent care facility, they usually have access to your entire medical record.
This means that they can review all the other medical services you may have received in the past and are more likely to be aware of any other conditions you might have.
This is especially important if you don’t have a regular doctor or if your doctor’s office is closed at night or on weekends.
8. They Offer Many Different Services
Urgent care facilities offer many services besides treating minor injuries and illnesses. Some urgent care facilities also provide physical and occupational therapy for those needing it.
Others may even provide routine checkups for young children or adults who need help managing their healthcare needs at home. Since so many different services are offered under one roof, it makes sense for people to choose this option instead of going to see a general practitioner who doesn’t specialize in any specific area of medicine or health care at all
9. The Lower Cost of Urgent Care
People looking for a place to get treated for an injury or illness will often choose urgent care facilities because they are cheaper than going to the hospital. Urgent care facilities often treat patients without having them go through an expensive ER visit. These facilities also treat minor injuries, such as cuts and sprains, which may not require an ER visit.
10. Easier Access to Medical Care
When you are experiencing an illness or injury, it can be challenging to make it into your doctor’s office during regular business hours. This is especially true if you work full time and have other responsibilities during the day.
However, most urgent care facilities do not close until late at night and even on weekends. You can call ahead or schedule an appointment online to ensure that you will receive immediate attention when needed.
11. Immediate Treatment Is Available
Urgent care centers provide immediate treatment for a variety of conditions. Patients can walk in and be seen immediately by a qualified doctor who can diagnose and treat their condition right away.
In contrast, if you call your primary care physician or go to an emergency room, it may take several hours before you are seen by someone who can help you with your condition.
12. Presence at Urgent Care Centers
Urgent care centers offer extended hours that allow patients to schedule appointments in their busy lives. Many facilities are open late into the evening and on weekends, so patients don’t have to miss work or other commitments to get medical treatment when they need it most.
Additionally, some locations offer same-day appointments for those who feel ill at any time during the day or evening but don’t want to wait until morning for a meeting with their primary care physician or an emergency room doctor.
13. Extended Hours of Operation
Many people don’t realize that some urgent care facilities are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means that they can be used as an alternative to an emergency room at any time during the day or night.
Many people prefer these facilities over actual hospitals because they know they won’t have to wait long to see a doctor when they arrive at the clinic.
14. Convenient Locations
Another benefit of choosing an urgent care facility over your primary doctor is finding one near your home or work. This means you won’t have to make multiple trips back and forth from home or work just because you need medical attention for an injury or illness.
Some facilities even have walk-in clinics where patients can go directly into the building without making an appointment.
Final Verdict
If you’re someone who needs to be seen by a healthcare professional as soon as possible, it may be time to explore an Urgent Care clinic.
Not only can this option help you avoid the wait time that can put a strain on your time and weariness, but it can also help you establish a connection with your healthcare provider better than normal doctor’s office visits.
Urgent Care University knows how important it is for patients to get treatment quickly. That’s why we’ve put together this collection of critical care facts, tips, and advice to help you keep from spending too much time in the waiting room.
With new, improved signage and a convenient mobile phone application, Urgent Care University has committed to improving your experience at our practice.