An unfortunate but unavoidable part of life is being sick. At some point, you’ll have to deal with feeling under the weather. In many cases, you’ll find that an urgent care facility will be able to treat your medical needs. In fact, statistics show that there are nearly 20,000 physicians currently practicing Urgent Care Medicine. That being said, it’s understandable to feel slightly nervous about visiting an urgent care facility for the first time. With that in mind, here is what you’ll want to have with you for your first urgent care visit.

  1. Photo Identification

    It’s imperative that you’re able to present some form of photo identification for an urgent care visit. The types of ID that are allowed can vary from location to location. In many cases, a drivers license or other type of government issued identification will be suitable.
  2. Information Concerning Your Medical History

    While you don’t need to write down information about your medical history before visiting an urgent care, many patients find it helpful. Before you can be seen by an urgent care professional, you’ll need to fill out a few forms. These forms will ask information concerning any medications or other products you’re using. It’s often helpful to have these medications written down beforehand to avoid forgetting anything.
  3. Documentation Relating to Current Ailment

    Certain medical conditions might have been affecting you before visiting an urgent care center. With that in mind, certain patients will find it helpful to bring test results related to their current medical matters. In turn, this helps to ensure that the medical professionals treating you have a clear understanding of your condition.
  4. Form of Payment

    Of course, you’ll need to have a payment method ready for the medical services rendered. Many urgent care facilities expect a payment to be made before you are seen. It’s important to note that certain visits might require x rays or testing that incur additional charges. That being said, many urgent care facilities will bill you the owed amount if your costs exceed a certain amount. However, it’s important to confirm this with the urgent care facility you’re visiting before being seen.
  5. Another Person

    In certain situations, you might require treatment that will impair your ability to drive. Therefore, it’s wise to have someone with you while you visit an urgent care enter. In the event that you don’t need to be driven home, many prefer to have someone with them in an urgent care waiting room.

In conclusion, it’s understandable that many people will find themselves visiting an urgent care center for the first time. In fact, statistics gathered from 2012 found that the most common urgent care procedure was wound repair. Regardless of your condition, it’s likely that these medical care clinics will be able to effectively provide you with adequate treatment. With that in mind, it’s important that you’re able to bring along a few important items with you. In addition, having someone you know in the waiting room with you can help to calm your nerves.