What’s all the buzz about urgent care centers and how can they help you? Over the course of the last decade, urgent care facilities have become the fastest growing segment in the American healthcare system, as the demand for affordable, convenient, and quality healthcare continues to rise.

How are they different than hospital emergency rooms and primary care doctor offices? Urgent care services focus on the evaluation and treatment of acutely occurring conditions that are not severe enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room yet still require immediate medical attention. Primary care physicians are more focused on practicing preventative medicine as well as their patients’ overall health and well-being.

Here are the top three benefits of vising an urgent care center for medical treatment.

Shorter wait times

Urgent care clinics operate on a walk-in basis, though appointments can also be made. On average, patients are typically seen and treated within an hour of their arrival. This is considerably less time than an emergency room visit. Many clinics also offer in-house dispensaries as an added convenience to their patients, allowing them to leave the facility with their prescribed medication.

Affordable treatment

Treatment at an urgent care clinic is significantly cheaper than treatment at emergency room or even a primary care physician’s office, especially for those who do not have insurance or have a high deductible. In fact, patients can save thousands by being treated at an urgent care center versus receiving the same treatment at an emergency room.

Convenient locations

Urgent care clinics are conveniently located throughout the United States, even in rural areas. This allows patients to receive the medical care they need without having to travel far distances. As the industry continues to boom, more and more clinics are being built, in order to continue providing patients with fast, affordable care. With emergency room facing long lines and patients waiting hours to be seen, being able to receive the care you need in a pinch makes all the difference.

Urgent care facilities offer all of the benefits of hospital emergency rooms and doctor’s offices without all of the hassle, and continue to bridge this gap in the healthcare industry. So if you’re suffering from a non-life threatening medical condition, a trip to your local urgent care center could be just what the doctor ordered. Find out more about this topic here: doctorsexpressenglewood.com