An urgent care center immediately provides the medical assessments and treatments you need–along with some routine medical services, such as physicals and immunizations. In short, it’s a one-stop shop for non-emergency care during routine hours and off-times when your PCP cannot see you.
Let’s talk about what urgent care is, what to know before you visit, and where you can find the best urgent care center in Fairless Hills, PA.
1. Learn if The Urgent Care Center Can Take Care of Your Particular Medical Need
Some urgent care centers can take care of specialized areas, such as women’s health and orthopedic care, with onsite imaging and casting. Others may be focused on pediatrics only. If you need routine care, such as a wellness physical for work or school or an update on a flu shot or pneumonia vaccine, learn if the center has those capabilities.
2. Have Your Health Insurance Card and Photo ID in Your Wallet
Whichever urgent care center you visit, you will need to present these two documents. Have your list of current medications and PCP’s contact information handy. If your child needs a form filled out for school or daycare, bring that with you as well.
3. Know What Kind of Professional Will Evaluate You
Quality urgent care centers, such as Patient Care Now Urgent Care, have onsite physicians who are board-certified in emergency care. They and their support personnel are highly qualified to triage, diagnose and treat a wide range of non-emergent medical conditions which need treatment as soon as possible.
4. Understand Which Health Problems Should be Seen at a Hospital ER
Do not go to an urgent care center with medical emergencies such as loss of consciousness, extreme shortness of breath and chest pain, symptoms of a stroke, uncontrolled bleeding, complex fractures or bleeding, and abdominal pain during pregnancy. These require the rapid services offered at a medical center or hospital. Call 911 for help when appropriate.
Conversely, urgent care centers handle many non-life-threatening problems, such as:
- Upper respiratory infections
- Low blood sugar
- Dehydration
- Mild to moderate burns, lacerations, sprains, and fractures
- UTIs
- Strep throat
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Dehydration
- Asthma attacks
5. Learn About Diagnostic Capabilities and Routine Care
Does the urgent care center have the tests and exams you need–STD testing, X-rays, wellness and occupational physicians, and others? Are vaccines, such as the flu, shingles, and COVID-19 shots, available?
6. Know the Location and Hours of the Urgent Care Center
Call or use the center’s website to know when it is open, if it is conveniently located near your home, school, or job, and how long their wait times may be. Many centers offer online check-in, cutting down on your wait time.
7. Understand Your Symptoms Before You Go
In other words, be prepared to tell the providers when your health issue began, what the symptoms are, and if anything helps or increases them. Remember, your urgent care provider does not have access to your medical records, so you must provide accurate information to obtain the proper diagnosis and treatment.
Excellent Urgent Care in Fairless Hills, PA
At Patient Care Now Urgent Care, our team delivers a wide range of medical services. We are open seven days a week, including holidays, making us the go-to medical facility when you cannot see your PCP. We also provide occupational, school, and wellness exams, along with vaccines and other routine treatments without an appointment.
To know more about our services or book a consultation, call us today at (267) 202-6433 or use our convenient online check-in form.
