Posted by So long as you do not suffer from a life-threatening condition, having an urgent care facility in your locality is indeed a lifesaver. In comparison to a doctor’s office or an ER, they are one of the best alternatives. Therefore, if you are planning to move into a new locality or a neighborhood, or a new home, one of your top priorities must be to locate an urgent care center nearby. Although it might sound scary to even think about an emergency, isn’t it better safe than sorry? Through this article, let’s get to know how to find urgent care in downtown LA and many other things that might be useful.
What is an urgent care medical center?
Urgent care medical centers are such facilities where patients can walk in without any prior appointment and consult with a doctor. These facilities provide their service for extended hours. However, the types of treatment they provide are those that are urgent but are not life-threatening. In short, the urgent care facility provides treatment for conditions such as fractures, respiratory infections, sprains, etc whereas, the emergency room attends to those conditions that are severe and life-threatening.
The operational times for urgent care facilities are different. Generally, they open the clinic early and close late. This facilitates you to see a doctor when your healthcare provider is already booked or closed. In comparison to hospitals, urgent care has a smaller staff but they are well-trained professionals who have the license to practice. Just in case you need to visit a doctor urgently then an urgent care facility is just right for you.
Benefits of Urgent Care facility
One of the major benefits of locating an urgent care facility is that it might help save you time and money. The amount you might have to spend on visiting an emergency room will be expensive. However, in an urgent care facility, it will be considerably lower. It can also save you much of your time. How? Well, if you walk-in into an emergency room with an illness that is not life-threatening then priority will be given to those with a more serious condition or injury. As a result, you will have to wait for hours. But in an urgent care center, it would have taken not more than 30 minutes or so.
When to visit an urgent care facility?
Urgent care clinics may be small but they are well-equipped with a range of equipment such as on-site labs and x-rays. If you are suffering from any illness that requires urgent attention but is not life-threatening then urgent care is where you should visit. Following are some of the illnesses that might require urgent medical care to address the symptoms:
- Urinary tract infection
- Symptoms of respiratory infections
- Ear Infections
- Back pain
- Eye infection
- Bronchitis
- Back pain
- Fracture
- Allergy
- Asthma
- Diarrhea and many more.
Tips to find an Urgent Care Facility
First and foremost, confirm if you have health insurance or not. If you have then call your healthcare provider to help you find an urgent care clinic that accepts your health insurance. Even if you do not have one, it is not an issue at all. Search online to find a clinic that suits your budget.
Urgent care clinics usually do not require appointments for you to visit. So the best way is to give them a call once you find an urgent care facility to know if the wait time will be long or not. Last but not least is to consult the doctor and get your treatment.
What if I am without insurance?
Whether you have insurance or not, visiting an urgent care clinic costs less than visiting an emergency room. You can save three-fourths of the amount you might spend on a trip to the emergency room when you visit an urgent care clinic. However, if you are without insurance then call in advance to find out about the charges. Do not shy away from asking about any available discounts or plans they can offer. Always ask for generic options for the medication as this can save much more when you are paying from your pocket.
Some Pointers on how to find an urgent care clinic that is best for you
Evaluate the symptoms to ensure that they are non-life-threatening. If the condition is serious then dial the emergency number 911 to call for an ambulance.
If you are insured then call the insurance agency to find out the urgent care clinic in their network that is closest to your location.
In case you are without insurance then search online for nearby urgent care clinics. Check the rates. Call up the facility to know more about the services they offer and the facilities and their availability.
Visit the facility to get the required medical care.
Hence, trying to find an urgent care clinic should not be a problem at all. Finally do not consider urgent care a substitute for your primary healthcare provider. No doubt it is a great aid in times of urgent need. Therefore you are always advised to call your primary healthcare provider first to see if you can get an appointment for the same day.