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What is urgent care?
Urgent care facilities are similar to an emergency room, often smaller and commonly owned by doctors or a group of doctors working together (half of all urgent care centers are doctor-owned) to provide immediate, swift medical care, often outside of traditional doctors’ working hours.
Urgent care hours often extend into the evening, with 9 out of ten urgent care facilities staying open past 7:00 pm on weekdays and two-thirds offering early morning hours.
To find excellent, truly grade A urgent care, many patients find that consulting with friends and family to get a referral can be vital. A friend who has had a positive experience can recommend local urgent care.
Most urgent care facilities can offer treatment for broken bones or fractures, provide x-rays, strep throat testing, nose bleed treatment, and medication for ear infections. They are generally up-to-date on current technology for patient records, follow-up appointment setting, and referrals to specialists.
Grade A urgent care is often seen to be a cut above the emergency room, which suffers from extended wait times and frequently overwhelmed staff. Urgent care facilities boast speedy visit times, usually well under two hours, and are designed to provide appropriate, swift medical care for acute but treatable conditions.