Did you know that there are an estimated 6,800 urgent care facilities in the United States? The urgent care movement took off in the United States during the 1970s, and now these centers have become practical alternatives to the emergency room for non-life-threatening conditions. In fact, urgent care is considered to be one of the best healthcare options available.

Variety of Treatment

Urgent care facilities are able to treat a wide variety of minor health problems. For example, neighborhood health clinics are equipped to remedy broken bones, lacerations, concussions, respiratory illnesses, and sprains. In addition, some urgent care facilities are anonymous STD testing clinics, and others provide patients with prescription medications before they leave the center.

Affordable

Relatively speaking, patients spend less money at urgent care than they do at the emergency room. In fact, the average urgent care treatment costs just $150, while the typical emergency room visit is around $1,500. Considering that urgent care offers many of the same treatments as the emergency room, individuals are able to get quality, affordable medical attention at urgent care.

Short Wait Times

Patients also experience short wait times when they visit urgent care because these facilities operate on a walk-in basis. For instance, 57% of patients wait only 15 minutes or less to be seen by a medical professional, and 80% of all visits are completed in under 60 minutes. This means that by visiting a neighborhood health clinic, you will be in and out before you know it.

There are several reasons why urgent care is one of the fastest growing segments of the American healthcare system. Not only do community health clinics offer a wide variety of affordable treatments, but they also provide patients with short wait times, as well. As a result, it is no wonder that urgent care has become one of the best alternatives to the emergency room for minor health conditions. Refernce materials.