Everyone should have an urgent care clinic selected as part of their medical care team. You have a primary care physician for routine checkups, a pediatrician for your child’s medical care, and maybe a few specialists for specific issues (for example, a cardiologist for a heart issue and an endocrinologist for a hormone issue). So why not have a qualified and trustworthy urgent care center among those you turn to in times of emergencies?
An urgent care clinic is a great place for last minute emergencies that cannot wait for an appointment with your primary care doctor. For example, let’s say you wake up with a severe flu one day and your primary care physician can’t get you in for a day or two. Or perhaps your child suffers a deep cut that requires stitches while playing outside with friends. In these types of situations, you need urgent medical attention.
Just as you might choose your other doctors or medical practices, an urgent care clinic should be chosen carefully. Don’t just go with the closest clinic and think that’s good enough. Urgent care clinics have differences that will matter in the long run.
Here are some of the things you should consider when choosing an urgent care clinic for you and your family:
Proximity – Proximity is an important factor when choosing an urgent care clinic. Let’s say you really like an urgent care clinic that’s about an hour away from your home. In a case of an emergency that requires care sooner rather than later, will you have the luxury to drive an hour away to get care? Additionally, let’s say your urgent care is close to your office but not your home or your child’s school. If you have an urgent care emergency while in the office, that location would be great. But what about an emergency that happens in the middle of the night at home? When choosing an urgent care clinic, consider all of the important locations like school, workplace, and home to ensure you find a location that is suitable no matter where you may be coming from.
Hours of Operation – Urgent care clinics do not have the same hours of operation. Let’s say you need urgent care at 10 p.m. on a Saturday night and your local urgent care closes at 8 p.m. on the weekends. In this situation, you will either have to go to another urgent care, visit the emergency room, or wait out your health issue until the next day. Consider the hours of operation when choosing an urgent care clinic to ensure you will have access to their services whenever you need them. This is particularly true for parents with children. Sometimes it only takes a few minutes for a medical emergency to pop up and an urgent care clinic with great hours of operation will make your life a lot easier because you can rest assured that they will be available when you need them.
Your Family’s Specific Needs – Not all urgent care clinics offer the same services or specialties. For example, some urgent care clinics specialize in treating adults only. If you are a parent, your urgent care needs will not suffice with an urgent care clinic that only treats adults. The same goes for your lifestyle needs. For example, if you have frequent orthopedic health issues involving your bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, not all urgent care clinics will be able to treat you adequately. When choosing an urgent care clinic for your family, consider all of the types of urgent care services you may need. Go with the clinic that offers the specific services your family needs so you don’t have to worry about finding another medical facility in case of an emergency.
Insurance Coverage – Urgent care clinics take insurance just like regular doctors’ offices. But not all urgent care facilities will take all types of insurance. When choosing an urgent care clinic for your family, find out what their insurance acceptance policy is so you can rest assured that you won’t end up with an unexpected bill to pay out-of-pocket because of insurance coverage issues.
If you are looking for a reliable and experienced urgent care center for your family’s medical care needs, consider Patient Care Now Urgent Care. With board-certified emergency medical providers who are qualified to treat adult, pediatric, and orthopedic urgent care problems, you will be in safe, experienced hands. To learn more about why you should choose Patient Care Now Urgent Care, call (267) 202-6433.
