When you need to see a doctor there are always a few different options to choose from. One way to get care is to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician, but that does not always mean getting a same day appointment. When you need to see a doctor quickly the options come to down to the emergency room and urgent care. The emergency room can be quite a pain and even a more expensive choice depending on your insurance. But many urgent care clinics work outside of insurance and can see drop-ins relatively quickly.

In fact, some urgent care facilities are so convenient that it can be easier to go there than to schedule and head in to see your primary care doctor. Urgent care clinics usually have extended hours such as later in to the evening and full days over the weekend. Some urgent care centers are so streamlined and efficient that you won’t even need to wait to be seen.

There are many reasons why you might find yourself in need of urgent care. The most common reason that people get seen at urgent care clinics is for respiratory care, like if they develop a deep cold or something like that. American get one billion colds every year, so one can imagine that there is a lot of follow up care needed. In addition to all those colds, five to 20 percent of Americans get the flu each year. The flu is a more series viral infection than a cold, but both can result in the need for respiratory care for coughs and breathing issues.

The most common repair taking place at urgent care centers is wound repair, but four out of five of them will even help with fractures. Injuries like ankle sprains are not necessarily serious injuries but they do require care and rest. Some reports have stated that 25,000 Americans suffer from an ankle sprain every single day. It’s always important to get ankle sprains checked out when they take place because with swelling and pain it can be difficult or impossible to self-diagnose between a sprain, a fracture, or a tear of some sort. Getting an urgent care doctor to take a look can be quick and easy, giving you the knowledge and tools you need to get better quick.

There are many different reasons why you might consider going to a clinic for mild to moderate illness and injury. Of course, the most severe types of injuries will need to be treated in a hospital or emergency room setting, but there is no reason why you can’t head to an urgent care to handle colds, urinary tract infections, or minor injuries. Walk-in care can truly be the answer you’re looking for in getting your medical needs met easily and most efficient.