What are urgent care centers?
We often rush to the ER (emergency room) when needing immediate medical attention. In comparison, going to other non-emergency treatment options could save us significant time and money. For instance, urgent care centers and retail health clinics provide affordable and efficient treatment for minor injuries and conditions.
Urgent care focuses on illnesses or injuries that require immediate attention but are not life-threatening. Examples of such conditions include upper respiratory infections, minor issues with breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, and sprains. Urgent care specialists do not perform surgeries; they can only care for minor wounds and remove skin lesions.
At the same time, this restricted scope allows urgent care centers to deliver affordable and efficient health care. As a result, patients receive care in the shortest amount of time. In addition, urgent care centers have extended working hours and can treat a wide range of non-life and limb-threatening illnesses and injuries.
Urgent care centers vs. retail clinics
Compared to urgent care centers, retail clinics typically treat lower acuity cases. They meet the demand for rapid, less sophisticated health care outside the doctor's office and emergency departments. Patients may visit a retail clinic to treat basic illnesses, such as a sore throat or earache, and preventative care (including immunizations and physical exams). Furthermore, retail clinics are typically a clinic-within-a-store concept with limited space, staffed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, there are around 2,000 retail clinics in the United States today. You can see retail clinics at pharmacies, supermarkets, "big box" stores, and also at large retail chains. Patients may or may not consult with physicians or primary care providers at such medical clinics. Consultations are usually brief, lasting up to 15 minutes. On the other hand, these clinics cater to a very specific demographic, as they do not care for patients' chronic problems or facilitate follow-up appointments. On the other hand, there is no need to make a reservation or schedule an appointment ahead of time.
Most urgent care centers have on-site laboratories and X-ray machines. That’s why patients can benefit from diagnosis and medical advice without leaving the center for radiological exams.
Urgent care centers also provide physicals and immunizations and help meet other primary healthcare needs. As acute care facilities, urgent care centers open early in the morning and close late at night — some even operate 24 hours a day. Sometimes, urgent care facilities do not require scheduled appointments. You can see a physician whenever it is convenient.
While emergency rooms have emergency medicine experts and nurse practitioners, urgent care clinics usually employ one or more primary care physicians and laboratory technicians. In contrast, retail clinics may not have any specialists on staff.
Here's a list of the most common conditions to help you understand those treated by a retail clinic versus an urgent care center.
At retail health clinics, patients can receive treatment for:
- Sore throat
- Cold
- Cases of the flu
- Allergies
- Rashes
- Headaches
- Vaccinations, immunization, and other preventive care
- Sinus infections
- Burns and cuts
At urgent care facilities, patients can receive treatment for all the conditions that retail clinics offer, in addition to:
- Lacerations and cuts that require sutures
- Injuries caused by accidents
- Urinary tract infections
- Pink eye or conjunctivitis
- Ear infections
- Excessive coughing and sneezing
- Minor abdominal pain
- Fractures in the hands or feet that are minor
Specialists employed at urgent care centers
Urgent care clinics typically do not treat critical cases or those requiring specialist interventions. However, more and more centers include specialists among their medical staff to provide quality non-emergent care. Such specialists commonly include:
- Sports medicine physicians: Sports medicine physicians are pediatricians, family medicine doctors, and other doctors who have received specialist training in sports medicine. Doctors specializing in primary care sports medicine diagnose, treat, and manage musculoskeletal and medical issues such as sprains, strains, minor fractures, and other sports-related injuries. Medical school lasts four years, followed by three years of general residency training. Some physicians also hold a Certificate of Added Qualification and 1 to 2 years of fellowship training in sports medicine (CAQ).
- Family physicians or primary care doctors: A primary care doctor is a medical professional who treats patients with typical medical issues. They usually have completed a residency in family practice and are board-certified or board-eligible. Their practice spans all ages, including children and adults, as well as obstetrics and minor surgery.
- Nurse practitioners: A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice nurse who has earned a master's degree in nursing. NPs may pursue specializations in cardiology, cancer, pediatrics, and family practice. They receive training in assessing patient requirements, ordering and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests, identifying illnesses, and formulating and prescribing treatment strategies.
How should you prepare to visit an urgent care center?
When going to receive urgent care near you, you must bring all necessary medical documents to speed up your treatment. This includes your health insurance details, any prescription medications you're taking, and a list of your medical diagnoses and vaccination history. If you have a primary care physician, have their name and contact information handy.
Ensure you bring a parental authorization form for minors not accompanied by their parents. Remember to bring a picture ID for verification purposes. You may have to make payments or copays required during your appointment.
Additionally, it's helpful to know the best times to visit an urgent care center. While they're open at all times during regular hours, certain times, like nights, weekends, and holidays, tend to be busier. If you can wait longer for care, it's a good idea to call ahead and inquire about the estimated wait time before heading to the center. This way, you can be seen by a healthcare professional more quickly, especially if you arrive when the clinic isn't too crowded.
What are the rules governing urgent care centers?
Sometimes, urgent care centers are called different names, like after-hours walk-in clinics or quick care clinics. They're not the same as emergency rooms and don't have strict rules about treating everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
Although there are guidelines for urgent care centers, unlike hospitals, they're not heavily regulated. This means they don't always have to meet certain standards or have specific licenses. Some urgent care centers might even use the word "emergency" in their names or ads, which could be confusing.
It's important to know that while urgent care centers can help with minor health issues, they cannot handle serious emergencies. If you have a serious medical problem, visiting a hospital emergency room is best. Urgent care centers can be helpful, but they're not a replacement for proper emergency care.
How to get urgent care near you in Phoenix
Urgent care clinics are continuously evolving to meet the demands of patients despite being relatively new to the healthcare sector. If you need to see an urgent care clinic, book an appointment with us at Zocdoc. We are a one-of-a-kind platform that allows patients to choose their preferred physicians.
When you use Zocdoc, you can look easily for an urgent care center's specialty, services offered (if any), and staff members. You can also learn about each provider's educational qualifications, state and city licensure, procedures they've been trained to conduct, and more on their profiles, in addition to their primary clinical interests.
You may also look for doctors who specialize in a particular branch of medicine by searching for a specific specialty or medical procedure. Thanks to our comprehensive directory, Zocdoc will find the top-rated providers that match your query. You can also look for in-network providers by entering your insurance network’s name.
Booking appointments with centers for urgent care near you through Zocdoc is safe, quick, and free.
Statistics on urgent care
There were around 9,616 urgent care centers in the United States as of 2019. This was a significant increase from just over 6,000 centers in 2013. Urgent care centers in the United States provide services to 30 to 50 patients daily, on average.
Around 19% of ER visits in 2014 were unrelated to medical emergencies — of all respondents surveyed, 12% visited an ER because their doctor's office was closed, and another 7% due to a lack of access to other doctors.
Sources
Medical Surge and the Role of Urgent Care Centers (Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange)
Experity
American Board of Physician Specialties
Making “Convenient Care” The Right Care For All: Improving State Oversight of Urgent Care Centers and Retail Health Clinics (Community Catalyst)
Statista
MedlinePlus
healthychildren.org
Reasons for Emergency Room Use Among U.S. Adults Aged 18-64: National Health Interview Survey, 2013 and 2014 (Gindi, R. M., Black, L. I., & Cohen, R. A.)
American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine
Harvard Health Publishing
Healthline
Americal College of Emergency Physicians
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