If you require medical care, you may be unsure which type of facility is best for your needs. Choosing the right service can help save you time and money. Read on to find out more about what these facilities have to offer.
Walk-in clinics provide easy access healthcare without an appointment. They were originally set up to offer a healthcare option to patients without insurance, providing more cost-effective medical services compared to an ER. They have since evolved and typically offer patients urgent care, along with a variety of other services, making it a practical alternative to an ER for non-emergency situations.
Urgent Care Vs. ER
The primary difference between an urgent care facility and an emergency room is the severity of the medical conditions and injuries that are treated in each facility. If you have an emergency situation, such as an injury or a condition that you think may be life-threatening, you should go directly to your nearest ER or dial 911 for emergency medical care. This is because ERs offer a broad spectrum of care for patients and are fully staffed and equipped to handle life-threatening emergencies. If however, you are looking for treatment for an injury or health condition that is not considered life threatening, but still requires high priority care, an urgent care facility may be a better choice.
Urgent care facilities are walk-in clinics with extended hours. They provide immediate care for acute illnesses and injuries to patients of all ages and offer a wide range of treatments often associated with an ER, such as fracture care, sutures for lacerations, nebulizer treatments, and IV fluids. Some urgent care facilities also provide a variety of other services, such as routine physicals or occupational medicine.
Cost-Effective Care
Typically, urgent care is more affordable than using an emergency room. Emergency room costs can vary greatly depending on treatment, but according to a Health Care Cost Institute study that was carried out in 2017, the average cost of care came in at $1,389. Although insurance can be used for ER care, less extensive insurance plans may only cover the most basic ER visits. Urgent care facilities usually accept all health insurance plans making them a much more cost-effective service. In addition to this, if they do not fully participate with your insurance carrier, they will try to obtain out-of-network reimbursement.
Quicker Wait Times
By using an urgent care facility instead of an ER, you can get treated a lot quicker. Patients at an urgent center care are seen on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Emergency rooms work differently, treating patients based on the severity of the condition. Patients with life-threatening injuries go first. This can mean you may experience long waiting times if you have a minor medical condition.
Extended Opening Times
An ER is open 24/7 and can help with all types of medical emergencies, but for your convenience, urgent care facilities are also open 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Walk-ins are welcome with no appointment necessary, but you can call ahead to let them know you are coming or check-in online for a quicker service.
Services Provided By A Walk-In Urgent Care
Urgent care facilities treat a wide range of medical needs. They have board-certified emergency medicine physicians and caring support staff on-hand to offer expert care for a variety of acute illnesses and injuries, including:
- Abscesses and skin infections
- Acute back pain
- Allergies
- Animal bites
- Asthma
- Bacterial infections
- Bronchitis, coughs, colds, flu, fever, and sore throat
- Cuts, abrasions, lacerations, and minor burns
- Dehydration
- Dislocations (minor)
- Dizziness
- Ear and eye infections
- Fevers and flu
- Fractures
- Insect bites and stings
- Joint injuries/swelling
- Migraines and headaches
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Nosebleeds
- Nursemaid’s elbow
- Pink eye
- Pneumonia
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Sinus infections and other respiratory infections
- Sprains and strains
- Stomach flu
- Strep throat
- Tonsillitis
- Urinary retention
- Urinary tract infections
- Viral infections
Urgent Care Services in Fairless Hills, PA
If you are looking for high-quality urgent care, visit Patient Care Now Urgent Care. We provide prompt diagnosis and expert treatment for patients of all ages with acute illnesses and injuries. We also specialize in physicals and care for work-related injuries.
Our urgent care facilities are open 7 days a week, 365 days a year to patients in the Bucks County area. If you would like to find out more about our services, call us at (267) 202-6433. No appointment is necessary, but you may wish to check in online for the quickest service
