With the expansion of urgent care clinics serving Alhambra, you have more options than ever in finding the healthcare you need, when you need it. However, that’s not to say that an urgent care clinic can fully replace a full doctor’s office or hospital. Urgent care has a shorter list of services they can provide – but often, that’s all you need.
So, how do you know when it’s better to visit an urgent care clinic or your primary physician? Here are some pointers.
How to Know When Urgent Care Is A Good Option
1 – The issue isn’t genuinely life-threatening.
“Urgent care” is not the same as “emergency care.” If it’s a problem such as a heart attack, stroke, seizures, deep laceration, or weapon wound, the patient should be taken straight to the ER. If you’re uncertain about whether a condition is immediately life-threatening, it’s probably best to play it safe and go to the ER anyway. They’ll tell you quickly if it’s not life-threatening.
2 – Your primary physician’s office is closed.
This is one of the biggest reasons people visit an urgent care clinic in Alhambra – we’re open for a wider range of hours, including weekends and many holidays. If your primary care office is closed, urgent care is a great alternative!
3 – You need the following services but lack insurance.
Urgent care centers try to make their services as affordable as possible, even to people without insurance. Often, you can get basic medical care for far less than you would at a full doctor’s office or hospital. Depending on your deductible\co-pay, it might be cheaper even if you do have insurance!
In particular:
- X-Rays
- Basic lab tests
- STD testing
- Simple bone fractures (when the bone isn’t visible)
- Workman’s comp exams or other workplace physicals
- Strains, sprains, and other minor sports injuries
- Vaccinations
- Flu and fever
- Diabetes management
4 – You don’t want to wait in the ER for minor care.
An ER manages its patients based on the severity of their condition. This is understandable enough – someone having a stroke should be seen before someone with a broken arm. However, if you’re the one with the broken arm, this could mean hours of painful waiting!
Urgent care can usually tend to you much more quickly than the ER.
Need help? Advanced Urgent Care is here for you! Come visit whenever you need help.
Disclaimer:
Please note that our Urgent Care Facilities might not be able to treat all conditions similar to those described here and these patients are referred to a local emergency room if a high-level of care is required.
