Urgent Care Clinics vs. Emergency Rooms
Urgent care clinics are gaining popularity as a way of treating minor injuries and illnesses, freeing up hospital emergency rooms for more serious cases.
How do you decide whether to use an urgent care clinic or the emergency room? It is a common predicament. Say you or your family is plagued with a cold, earache, bumps or bruises. Does this warrant a hospital visit? More people are depending on walk-in care at urgent care clinics when minor illnesses occur, especially after hours, on weekends and on holidays.
When should you go to a clinic?
Hospital emergency rooms are best at saving lives in critical situations. They are also full of life-saving and diagnostic equipment such as CT scanners. If you find that you don't feel well but cannot visit your regular physician, this is the time to head over to your neighborhood health clinic. These are some of the medical issues a clinic is equipped to help:
Sprains and strainsCommon cold and fluFeverSore throats and earachesVomiting, nausea and diarrheaUrinary tract infectionsNon-life-threatening allergic reactions and asthmaSimple wounds and minor bone fractures
Is a health clinic suited for treating children?
The emergency room can sometimes be a frightening place for young children. Viewing the sick and gravely injured can present a child with disturbing situations. One of the key benefits of health clinics is a shorter wait time. There is nothing better to a parent than being able to see a doctor in a short period of time. Around 80 percent of visits to clinic facilities are 60 minutes or less, according to the Urgent Care Association of America.
What tests can be performed at health clinics?
Health clinics are a step between the doctor's office and an emergency room. Many offer diagnostic X-rays and simple lab work, such as urine tests, strep throat tests and blood sugar tests. Centers often draw blood for other tests, but these may need to go out to a laboratory, and results would follow in a few days.
Will my insurance cover a visit to a health clinic?
Most insurance companies will cover clinics. The co-payment is far less than the charge of an emergency room visit. At the hospital, you usually pay one charge for the facility and a separate charge for the doctor. Clinics work like a doctor's office and charge a co-payment for the complete visit. It's a good idea to research urgent care facilities with your insurance company and have a few local ones in mind, in the event that a health-related situation presents itself. Some are privately run, while others are owned by corporations and physicians, or even hospital affiliated. Some health clinics will cover patients whether they can pay or not, just like hospitals. This makes patients feel safe and know that care is waiting for them in case of an unforeseen issue.
The bottom line
Use your instincts when deciding if your illness or injury warrants calling 911, or if it requires more extensive care and admittance to the hospital. Then, by all means, go to your nearest hospital. For minor illnesses, think about finding your neighborhood after-hours health clinic. There are even convenient centers located in pharmacies and grocery stores. Many even have web sites where you can check on their services and wait times online. Checking Angie's List will direct you to referrals, which makes choosing family health clinics easier.
