Staying healthy today should be easy. With a wide range of health care platforms, there is a way for you to get the care that you want in the best available setting. From a traditional visit to a family physician or pediatrician to stopping by a walk in urgent care clinic on the way home from work to rushing into a hospital emergency room, today’s health care platform continues to expand. In fact, with the use of the latest telemedicine options many patients are able to get the care that they need without having to physically go to the doctor.
Each of these different platforms, of course, serve a different purpose. Today’s health consumer needs to know which option they should select so that they are getting the care that they need in the most effective and affordable way.
Traditional Family Physician and Pediatrician Visits Still Play an Important Role
The Normal Rockwell paintings of children visiting the family doctor carried a strong universal message for many years. Families made connections with doctors who cared for every member of a family, sometimes spanning two and three generations of patients. Today, there are still a number of people who get the care that they need by calling in for an appointment with their family physician or pediatrician. With a few spots left open for day of appointments, many of these officers are able to accommodate the calls that patients make looking for some immediate medical advice.
The advantages to seeing your family doctor is familiarity. With electronic chart in hand, doctors are now able to easily scan medical history in seconds. Nurses still take care of the initial health screening questions that help make certain the doctor will have the latest information when they enter a patient’s room.
Urgent Care Clinics Provide an Affordable, Convenient Method to Get the Health Care Many Patients Need
One disadvantage of the traditional visit to see a family doctor, of course, is convenience. Many of today’s health care needs cannot be scheduled two or three weeks out. In fact, there are many times when families of young children need medical answers and advice immediately. Working parents, for instance, need a way to find out after work if a child has strep throat and whether or not that child can safely go to school the next day.
An estimated 3 million patients visit urgent care clinics each week, according to the Urgent Care Association of America. This statistic alone is an indicator of how effective this kind of platform is. These conveniently located walk-in clinics offer extended hours, affordable prices, and qualified staff to help today’s health consumers get the healthcare answers that they need. With the help of 20,000 physicians who practice Urgent Care Medicine today, these answers are convenient and knowledgeable.
Hospital Emergency Rooms Still Serve an Important Purpose in Today’s Health Care Needs
When you or a loved one are in need of immediate care for a life-threatening injury or illness it is always in your best interest to get yourself to the closest emergency room as soon as possible. From heart attack to gruesome sports injury, there are many times when the only health care answer that makes sense is a trip to the ER. Unfortunately, because of a lack of insurance or calm thinking, there are many times when patients select an emergency room for less than emergency treatments. Now that 85% of urgent care centers are open seven days a week, you would think that everyone would know that a walk-in clinic is the only care that is needed. Non-emergency injuries and illnesses that end up in a hospital ER cost the nation money in wasted fees and high overhead.
In addition to being the most expensive way to get non-emergency care, a trip to the ER also costs a patient time. Operating on a triage approach, ER patients are treated according to need. Unlike a family physician or walk-in clinic where patients are treated by appointment or arrival, a hospital emergency room by definition has to treat the most serious injuries first. The best health consumers make educated decisions about the care that they need.
If you’re concerned about covering the costs of your visits to emergency rooms, urgent care, or even your routine physician appointments, you need to consider health insurance plans to help you pay these fees. One great solution to this problem would be to get connected with Jericho Share. This is a medical cost-sharing community that takes into account the beliefs and morals of the people they serve. This is a great option for anyone who would take pride in being part of a bigger initiative, helping others, and knowing that you’re surrounded by people who have your back. Make sure to do your research to find the best healthcare option for you!