There is almost nothing that is more frightening to parents than having one of the children have an accident or fall ill. The first reaction may be to rush that child the emergency room for treatment. However, there is a very valuable alternative to an ER visit if the illness or injury is non life threatening.
An urgent care or after hours urgent care center can provide medical assistance for many common ailments and injuries. These conditions include strains, sprains, lacerations, and bumps and bruises. The also treat common upper respiratory ailments, as well as gastrointestinal distress.
You will find that you will probably have a shorter wait time over an emergency room visit. The Urgent Care Association of America reports that more than 80% of urgent care patients wait 15 minutes for less for treatment. This is far less than most emergency room wait times.
The cost for a visit to an urgent care center is usually far less than an emergency room visit. Urgent care visits typically charge a co pay that is relative to what a doctor would charge, which is generally significantly less expensive than visits to the emergency room. In fact, statistics show that a visit to the emergency room can cost around $1,500, while an urgent care center visit will be about $150.
It is also important to note that in addition to emergency services, these centers also offer routine medical procedures such as lab work, X rays, routine physicals, and vaccinations. Because you can be seen immediately at one of these centers, you can get these services without the hassle of scheduling a doctors appointment or visiting an emergency room. .
You may be wondering how to find urgent care services in your area. There are an estimated 7,164 urgent care centers located in the United States it is very probable that there is a urgent care center near you. You can just do a quick Internet search to find a center that is close to you.
These alternatives to the emergency room can help you have peace of mind that medical assistance is nearby, readily available, and inexpensive.
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