Mark Luigi Dacumos
They may be your best bet if you’re looking to feel better while also saving time and money in the process.
What are two places where most people never want to be? The first is the doctor’s office, while the second is the emergency room. Being present in either is usually a sign that something’s wrong, and depending on where you go, you could be waiting a long time, making the situation worse.
To top it all off, trips to the doctor or emergency room can be quite expensive. So not only do you not want to be there, but you have to pay a pretty penny to do so.
An often overlooked option when you need medical attention is the walk-in clinic or urgent care center. Why? Because if you’re sick, you’ll usually turn to your primary care physician, as you’re familiar with them and feel comfortable with their advice. Or, if the problem is particularly bad, you may rush to the emergency room without thinking, because that’s what we were always “taught” to do.
While you can get the care you seek at your doctor’s office or the ER, both may not be ideal when it comes to time and cost. A walk-in clinic, however, may be just what “the doctor ordered.”
The Benefits of a Walk-in Clinic
Sufficient Treatment
If you’re not feeling well or have a common injury, an urgent care center may suffice. For instance, here are situations where you can skip the doctor’s office or ER, and get treated at a walk-in clinic with similar results:
- Burns
- Colds
- Falls
- Cases of flu
- Injuries
- Lacerations
- Minor fractures
- Sprains
Walk-in clinics have the staff to handle such illnesses and injuries. On the other hand, if your illness or injury is life-threatening, then a trip to the emergency room may be in order, as heart attacks, strokes, and head injuries are more serious.
Many walk-in clinics also offer on-site lab services and tests like EKGs, X-rays, and blood work to help diagnose what’s going on. Even better, you can get quicker lab results from clinics instead of waiting days, which is often the case with primary doctors.
Save Time
What about convenience? If you’ve ever dealt with a physician, you know that you’re limited to their schedule, which is usually 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Walk-in clinics extend those hours, and may also be open on the weekends. If you’re lucky, you may live near a clinic that’s open 24/7.
Aren’t emergency rooms open 24/7? Yes, but a quick look at their wait times shows that walk-in clinics have them beat. If you visit a walk-in clinic, you may be waiting 15 minutes to get treated. Visit the emergency room, and you could be sitting in agony for several hours.
Save Money
Last but not least is the pricing. Walk-in clinics can be much cheaper than doctors’ offices or emergency rooms, which is ideal for everyone, and especially for someone without medical insurance. Although many factors must be considered, you could pay three times as much for treatment at an emergency room versus an urgent care center.
Keep this in mind the next time you need medical care.
