Knowing When to Go to the Urgent Care

Going to an urgent care provider is a good decision in many instances. If you have these facilities in your local area, they can prove to be one of the most effective and easiest ways to get the medical attention you need. There are some situations, though, in which these providers may not be the best option. Yet, for many people, these facilities can provide for most types of medical need. When should you go to this location? When does the hospital prove a better solution? If you have questions about these situations, you can always call the facility directly to inquire about the services offered. Emergency Medical Needs In some cases, an urgent care is the ideal option. It may be close to you. It may not have a long wait. Even better, it can be far more inexpensive to use than visiting a hospital. However, if your health needs are immediate, it is best to turn to a medical provider like a hospital instead. These facilities often do not have surgical options available. You will not find specialists here either. For those needs, visit a traditional hospital with an emergency room setup. Some facilities offer some types of medical service like this, but you should confirm with the location if this is a need. Feeling Ill In many cases, individuals feel ill and need to visit a doctor but they do not know when to go. You should visit a facility like this if you are bleeding and it will not stop. If you have a high fever, visit the doctor. If you are struggling with physical pain that you would rate at a seven or eight on a scale of one to ten, then visit a doctor. It is also a good idea to visit when you are having any type of reaction to medications, foods or other exposures in which allergies could be a factor. Beyond Illness Keep in mind that these facilities can provide more than just medical attention for illness. Many of these facilities provide help for checkups and physicals. They can fill your need for blood work or x-rays, too. Do you need a drug screening? Do you need a private STD screening? Do you need immunizations? Both children and adults can use these services, too. The urgent care is the place to go for non-life threatening medical needs. You will find trained, compassionate doctors available to help you with most any need you have. However, it is important to consider which provider is necessary in your situation. These facilities can often provide services that your family doctor can offer. Yet, they are often faster and available without an appointment.