Currently, there are 20,000 urgent care physicians that practice within this expanding field of medicine. The Urgent Care Association of America reported that approximately three million individuals visit these facilities every week. When urgent care is needed, and someone’s regular physician is unavailable, these walk-in clinics provide a convenient and affordable alternative to visiting the hospital emergency room.
In addition to treating colds, flus, and various minor illnesses, urgent care physicians can diagnose and provide treatment for urinary tract and other types of infections. This includes prescribing antibiotics and other necessary medications. Ankle sprains and bone fractures can also be handled at these facilities along with wounds that require stitches. Upper-respiratory conditions such as asthma are also treatable at these clinics.
It’s important to note that urgent care centers offer preventative care as well. Flu shots and other important immunizations can be administered. Sports physicals, annual medical check-ups, and wellness check-ups are available at these centers.
When you or someone in your family needs medical treatment, it’s important to know that urgent care centers are available. Rather than visiting the hospital emergency room, you can receive treatment for a variety of issues at an urgent care clinic. Just one of the many benefits of choosing this option is that you will not need to wait for a long period of time to see a physician or physician’s assistant. On average, it usually takes 15 minutes or less to be seen by a medical professional. Furthermore, 85% of these facilities are open throughout the entire week for extended hours.
If you’ve never visited one of these facilities before, you might have noticed them in your area. Even though you may not require medical treatment at this time, it would be a good idea to make note of these locations for future reference. Since you likely have a busy schedule, knowing where the closest urgent care facility is located can save you time and effort when you do have an urgent medical need. When you have time available, you can stop by and visit one of these facilities to learn more about all of the services that they provide.