Talk to anybody today about the debt they’re dealing with and there’s a high chance medical bills will enter the conversation sooner or later.
Medical debt is one of the most staggering issues being faced by the modern adult today. This isn’t at all helped by a widespread lack of knowledge regarding medical resources. Recent data has found a significant portion of emergency room visits being considered more than fit for urgent care locations. That’s thousands of extra dollars spent on lab fees and ambulance charges that could have been used elsewhere! When you need quality care that doesn’t put you out-of-pocket, the advantages of urgent care will more than meet you halfway.
Never visited an urgent care center before? It’s time to learn about the urgent care model and how it can help you save money while still giving you the treatment you need.
Urgent Care Centers Have Short Wait Times
Do you worry about your condition getting worse the longer you wait? You can put those fears to rest with the urgent care model. A recent study found roughly 60% of all centers to have a wait time of 15 minutes or less. Even the longer wait times don’t often exceed 30 minutes. Not only can you expect to be seen by a provider as soon as possible, you can enjoy a flexible schedule that works with you, not against you.
Most Urgent Care Centers Are Open Throughout The Week
The last thing you need when you’re in pain is another door being shut in your face. Recent data has shown around 65% of urgent care centers to be open before 9:00 am during the week, with a significant amount doing so on Saturdays and Sundays. The majority of these centers will also be open until 7:00 pm or later on weeknights. It’s best to double-check the schedules of the ones in your area, however, so you don’t have any nasty surprises waiting for you when you need them most.
Urgent Care Models Provide Treatment For Injuries And Illnesses
From fractures to burns, your urgent care clinic will be able to deliver. Around 80% of urgent care centers today provide fracture care, with another 70% offering intravenous fluids when needed. It’s not just injuries that can be treated, either. You can receive check-ups, pain relief and treatment for illnesses such as the common cold, the flu or a high fever. It’s estimated one out of five centers have more than 400 patient visits per week.
It’s Not Hard To Find An Urgent Care Location
You know your clinic can provide fast treatment. You know it can address a wide variety of issues. Will you be able to find a center in time? Urgent care remains one of the fastest growing sectors in the medical field today, with over 20,000 physicians specializing in urgent care today. A physician, or group of physicians, also own around 50% of urgent care centers. Your city likely has multiple urgent care centers that can provide you a reliable supplement to your insurance plan.
You Can Save Money And Receive Quality Treatment Simultaneously
The last benefit of the advanced urgent care clinic, and one that will benefit you well down the road, is its affordability. While the emergency room is a valid option for extreme injuries or allergic reactions, it can backfire when used indiscriminately. The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention found just under half of all adult patients not sick enough for the hospital going to the emergency room instead because their physicians’ offices closed. That means astronomically high medical bills that just stress you further. An urgent care setting, on the other hand, will provide you the same treatment for less.
Reduced costs and accessible treatment. That’s the promise urgent care delivers on every day.