When you suddenly have a medical issue that is not life-threatening, it is in your best interest to go to an urgent care center. Whereas an emergency room has an effective triage process that prioritizes the most life-threatening injuries first – so everyone else must wait for them to be treated before being seen by a doctor – an urgent care center is generally less expensive and oftentimes has a policy of quick and efficient healthcare service.
The medical team at an urgent care center diagnoses and treats patients who have non-life-threatening health emergencies, such as a fever, cough, rash, headache, minor allergies, or a cold or flu. Let’s talk about the reasons why you would want to visit an urgent care clinic as opposed to an emergency room (ER), and who you can talk to about your options.
You Can Walk In Without an Appointment
Just like an emergency room, an urgent care center does not require an appointment – just walk right in. You can expect to be evaluated and treated relatively quickly, without having to wait very long in the waiting room as with most emergency rooms.
Little to No Wait Time Needed
Because patients are seen in an urgent care facility based on the order in which they came in rather than based on the severity of the health condition, you will never be prioritized to the back of the line. If you were to head to an ER for a non-life-threatening emergency, you may have to wait for a very long time before seeing a doctor.
More Affordable
Because urgent care centers do not deal with life-and-death emergencies, these clinics require a smaller staff, less medical equipment, and a smaller space than do emergency rooms. Because there are fewer costs necessary to operate the clinic, these lower costs translate to lower bills to the patient.
Be Seen More Quickly by a Doctor
Urgent care centers are staffed by physicians, physician’s assistants, specialists, and technicians whose goal is to get you in and out as efficiently as possible. There is more of a culture of client service and hospitality in these clinics as opposed to that of a general ER, whose goal is to save your life and move you on to the next step of treatment.
Urgent Care Clinic in Bucks County, PA
Urgent care centers are designed to provide fast and efficient healthcare service for urgent medical needs, without the necessity of a long wait time due to the medical staff having to save someone’s life. Go to an emergency room for life-threatening injuries and potentially fatal health issues, such as a severe allergic reaction, but go to an urgent care center for everything else.
At Patient Care Now Urgent Care, we provide adult, pediatric, and orthopedic urgent care services. We are a physician-owned urgent care facility whose goal is to protect your health and get you the treatment you need without unnecessary wait times.
If you, your child, or a loved one needs to see a doctor, visit us during our extended hours any day of the year, including all weekends and holidays. If you have any questions, give us a call at (267) 202-6433. We look forward to serving you and your family.
