When it comes to finding the right healthcare for your needs, choosing between your family doctor, the emergency room and an urgent care clinic can often be a tricky endeavor. If you’re looking to get quality treatment in a quick and efficient manner that won’t break the bank, then an urgent care clinic might be your best option.
Check out some of the incredible benefits of Pasadena urgent care clinics and why you should consider them next time you need quick but not emergency health needs!
When Is an ER Visit Necessary?
If you’re experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, then the ER (emergency room) is where you should go immediately. Types of severe medical emergencies include uncontrollable bleeding, difficulty breathing, changes in mental function such as dizziness or confusion, poisoning or exposure to dangerous chemicals, head injuries, or intense chest pain. If you’re uncertain whether or not you should be going to the ER or if your medical issue is life-threatening, you should always err on the side of caution and go anyways. If your condition is not life-threatening, however, then you’ll be tasked with deciding between an urgent care clinic or making an appointment with your family doctor.
When Is Urgent Care a Better Option than the ER?
There are some medical situations when an urgent care clinic might be the best option for you or your family. These often include “in-between” medical situations- issues that aren’t serious enough for the ER but that you want to be taken care of quickly and efficiently in a way that’s more convenient than through an appointment at your family doctor. Some of the most common symptoms that are treated at urgent care clinics include cold and flu, sprains, sore throat, pink eye, stomach issues, rashes, bites, cuts, scrapes, and burns.
What are the Benefits of an Urgent Care Clinic?
If it’s not an urgent case where you need immediate care, then there’s nothing wrong with taking a few moments to sort through your treatment options. When it comes to opting for an urgent care clinic, there are a few different reasons why opting for treatment there might be better as opposed to your family doctor or the ER.
Convenient Hours
Perhaps one of the best reasons to opt for an urgent care clinic is that they have extended, often 24-hour service which is perfect if you’re in a bind. There is nothing more challenging than needing medical assistance and not wanting to go to the ER, and an urgent care clinic will be able to assist you much more quickly than your regular family doctor’s office.
Affordable Prices
Unfortunately, the reality of seeking medical care is that there are often unforeseen costs and large bills when making a trip to both the ER and your family doctor. Another amazing benefit of urgent care clinics is that you can receive treatment at an affordable cost. Your insurance will likely support some of the costs when it comes to visiting the ER, however, between those two options, an urgent care clinic will be much more affordable. This is especially true if you need to schedule any sort of follow-up or pay for any aftercare costs. Additionally, if you don’t have insurance, then a visit to the ER will definitely be more expensive comparatively, while an urgent care clinic will often have non-brand medications and different payment options which can help to mitigate the costs.
Quick and Efficient Service
While you may think an ER would be the easiest place to get fast and efficient services, most visits typically end up including a few hours of waiting time as patients with serious needs are prioritized. At your family doctor’s office, there might also be delays in terms of scheduling and booking appointments. With an urgent care clinic, there’s always the chance you might have to wait a little while, however, it will almost certainly be a shorter wait time at an ER or for a doctor’s appointment.
Comprehensive Treatment
One of the best parts about an urgent care clinic is that they are highly equipped to deal with many different treatments thoroughly by providing wraparound supports. Physicians who work in urgent care are hired for a wide range of comprehensive treatments, and even the building comes equipped with a variety of different services. For example, many urgent care clinics also have on-site labs to do various bloodwork and testing, as well as on-site digital x-ray services and even on-site pharmacies. From x-raying a potential fracture to running quick lab tests, an urgent care center is well equipped to provide support on-site, much more than your standard family physician’s office.
A Variety of Options
While not all urgent care clinics will have the same services, many also provide support in specific urgent care areas. For example, pediatric urgent care, women’s health services, occupational health services, and often even support via telehealth services. If you’re looking for a specialty provider for a specific issue, or even trying to find an option to book a medical consult without having to leave your home, make sure you’re researching your local urgent care clinics to see what other types of options they have available. Urgent care clinics often provide comprehensive treatment for both immediate health needs as well as other less immediate but still important specialty health services.
Advanced Urgent Care
If you’re looking for an exceptional urgent care clinic in Pasadena, you should add Advanced Urgent Care of Pasadena to the top of your list. Our expert medical professionals are highly trained to deal with the full roster of non-life-threatening emergencies, and our amazing support staff will help make sure you have all the important information you need regarding insurance coverage support and will make sure you have the proper follow-up appointments scheduled.
We even offer telehealth services so you can receive medical support from the comfort of your own home. Get in touch with us today and let us provide you with convenient, affordable, and comprehensive medical services.
