Urgent care services are a special category of urgent care clinic in the U.S. focused specifically on the quick delivery of critical, non-urgent medical care outside a hospital or other long term care facility. Most urgent care facilities are located in major urban centers with populations above 50,000. They typically treat patients with serious conditions including heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrest, burns, diabetic emergencies, and other types of medical conditions that require immediate medical attention. Check instacare.
Urgent care facilities can offer both primary care and specialty care to patients. Most urgent care centers offer both walk in clinics and office-based services. The walk in clinics provide basic care for a small fee and can often be called by emergency operators. These are staffed by a physician and/or nurse who will make a quick assessment to determine if the patient requires further treatment or further testing.
Office-based urgent care centers are more complex and usually provide more comprehensive care. This care includes diagnostic testing such as blood work, imaging, and blood pressure checks. They also may provide procedures like a blood transfusion, emergency surgery, or elective surgery. Many offices are equipped to perform procedures that are not covered by insurance.
Urgent care clinics are generally designed to take advantage of the fast-paced nature of most emergency situations. In some cases, patients waiting in the waiting room of an urgent care center are asked to stay in their cars or vans during the entire wait time. This is done to keep the waiting room area sanitary and to keep other patients out of the waiting room if possible.
It's important for patients to understand that the staff at urgent care centers do not have any special training in diagnosing or treating medical conditions. Some emergency doctors may specialize in certain types of urgent care, but it is not usually required. These doctors are usually members of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other medical, professional organizations.
If you visit an urgent care center for an examination, consultation, or procedure, remember to bring along a list of questions to ask your doctor. Make sure to ask about any restrictions on using medical equipment or medications. Be sure to check for a list of emergency contact information for local emergency medical services (fire, police, ambulance, etc.)
Patient safety is important when visiting a facility. Always check the location of the facility, the staff's credentials, and how the facility is staffed. Always check for proper lighting.
It is also important to find out what insurance the facility accepts for the treatment of emergency conditions at the urgent care centers. Make sure the emergency service workers have been licensed by the state. When you are ready to leave, inform the receptionist to expect a call from you within five minutes. Read more about urgent care.
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