What are the advantages of visiting family care physicians as opposed to going to urgent care facilities? When you?re in the moment, this can be a difficult question to ask yourself. Most people immediately choose urgent care facilities for the fact that they?re main purpose is to deal with emergency medical situations. Yet, sometimes an emergency walk in clinic isn?t the best option. Read on to discover the advantages of choosing to visit your family doctor before going to the ER.

Urgent care facilities are known for their walk-in services. Patients in need of emergency medical care don?t have to call ahead for an appointment; all they have to do is show up, sign in and wait their turn. While a medical walk in clinic like the ER is ideal for many medical emergencies, there are several disadvantages that need to be taken into consideration.

To give you an idea of what we?re getting at, here are the top reasons why individuals should consult their family doctor prior to visiting this emergency walk in health clinic:

1. Cost: According to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the cost for visiting the ER could total to about $1,318. With an average cost of $615, that?s a large chunk of cash coming out of your pocket! Save yourself some money by starting with your family health care professional. They?ll determine whether or not it?s necessary for you to go to one of the local urgent care facilities and will provide the help you need for a fraction of the cost.
2. Wait: Even though a community health clinic like the ER is convenient to walk into without an appointment, you never know how long you have to wait to see a professional. It?s been estimated that from 2003 to 2009, the average individual was kept waiting in the ER between 46.5 minutes to 58.1 minutes. Family care physicians sometimes keep a few openings available in case they have last-minute patients, so calling to schedule an appointment with this medical professional will help to cut down the wait time for you.
3. Familiarity: One of the best advantages about visiting your family health care professional as opposed to the experts at urgent care facilities is that they know you. With all of your records on file and a history of examinations, these family care physicians have a full understanding of your medical history so they can provide a solution that suits you personally.

Now, even though it?s been reported that we?ll require an increase of about 52,000 additional family care physicians by 2025 to fully meet our medical needs in the U.S., primary doctors are always the best professionals to call when dealing with an non-life threatening medical situation. They offer the same medical advice for about half the cost and understand you as an individual. Do you have any additional reasons why it?s better to visit your family care physicians before going to the ER? Share in the comments below.