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What Is Urgent Care Medicine?

At its most basic, the emergency department (ED) provides care and treatment for life-threatening conditions. These facilities are available at every hospital, with a dedicated department looking after such patients. However, emergency departments (EDs) are known for pain points such as:

• long waiting times
• difficulty getting same-day sick care
• complex administrative procedures
• higher medical bills

According to a report published by AutoInsurance.org, emergency room visits in the United States have seen a steady rise in recent years, growing from 360 visits (per 1,000 persons) in 1995 to 445 in 2017. These factors have also led to the emergence of newer venues. These venues provide 'episodic' care — in other words, they provide acute or primary care but are not the patient's primary care physician (or family doctor). Such venues include retail clinics and urgent care centers, both of which have seen tremendous expansion in the past decade. This trend owes to people's increasing willingness to seek care in alternative settings.

Urgent care centers, or UCCs, are medical facilities where patients receive timely and affordable medical treatment. These clinics are specifically designed to address illnesses and medical conditions that pose no imminent threat to life or limb. Because Urgent care clinics are office-based, they have shorter wait times and treat patients as quickly as possible. In contrast, Emergency Rooms are always associated with a hospital. As a result, they have access to specialists and advanced medical equipment — but often at the cost of long waiting times.

92% of patients at urgent care centers wait for 30 minutes or less for consulting a practitioner, according to the Urgent Care Association of America. Such centers also operate for extended hours (including nights and weekends), providing an alternative to the emergency room. They are also a convenient option for patients traveling out of town or during the holiday season (when your family doctor's office is closed).

In such cases, the patients can book a visit to the nearest urgent care center. This makes care accessible to all patients, without burdening the emergency departments. Moreover, seeking care for low-acuity (i.e., non-life-threatening and less severe) conditions can lead to higher bills at the Emergency Department. Even for individuals with the same diagnosis, treatment costs can rise up to ten times more in emergency rooms. The average treatment cost at emergency rooms is about $2,200, far higher than the $168 average at an urgent care center, per a 2016 study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.

Why Visit an Urgent Care Center?

There is no one correct reason to visit an urgent center. In fact, the overwhelming majority of patients who go to the Emergency Department can be treated at urgent care sites. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just around 1% of emergency hospital visits require immediate and prompt attention.

Only 9.9% are classified as emanating or emergent — where emergent conditions can lead to death or significant harm. A third of visits to the emergency department are considered urgent, and roughly another one-third are categorized as less-than-urgent. In fact, only 10% of trips to the emergency room are actual emergencies.

Common conditions treated at urgent care centers include:

• Infections of the upper respiratory tract
  

  Upper respiratory tract infections are defined as self-limited irritation and swelling of the upper airways with concomitant cough and no evidence of pneumonia in a patient who has no other underlying medical condition or a history of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis. The nose, sinuses, pharynx, larynx, and central airways are all affected by upper respiratory tract infections. Rhinosinusitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, and ear infections are a few conditions treated at UCCs.

• Musculoskeletal disorders

  More than 150 diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system impair people's locomotor systems. UCCs can treat muscle, nerve, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal disc injuries and illnesses. They can range from injuries that occur quickly and are only temporary, such as fractures, strains, knee dislocations, and bursitis, to long-term conditions like back pain that cause functional limits and impairments.

  
  

  Musculoskeletal disorders are also the preceding cause of global rehabilitation needs. They account for over two-thirds of all adults in need of rehabilitation, and they are among the major contributors to the demand for rehabilitation services among children. According to a recent examination of Global Burden of Disease data, roughly 1.71 billion individuals worldwide have musculoskeletal disorders.

• Symptoms without a particular diagnosis and other minor conditions

  Sometimes, symptoms such as stomachache or headache can signal an underlying disease. In order to rule out such a possibility, you can visit an urgent care center. The physician will analyze your symptoms in the context of your medical history and other risk factors (such as age and sex) to make a diagnosis. You may also see an urgent care physician for a host of other conditions, such as allergies, bug bites, rashes, contact dermatitis, conjunctivitis, constipation, and eye injuries.

• Dermatological concerns
  

  Skin disorders are illnesses that affect the immediate surface of your skin. They may take the form of rashes, inflammation, itching, etc. Most dermatological disorders are the product of both genetics and lifestyle factors. Patients commonly visit an urgent care center for conditions such as cellulitis, abscesses, burns, and lacerations.

Urgent Care Facilities Near Me

Healthcare at the emergency department is often expensive and leads to significantly greater out-of-pocket costs than those at an urgent care clinic. Moreover, if your condition does not qualify as a medical emergency, you risk long wait times — leading to loss of productivity at school or work. But finding a trustworthy urgent care clinic can prove challenging, especially if this is your first visit.

With Zocdoc, you can find top-rated urgent care physicians in your neighborhood in no time! You can also rely on verified customer reviews. Moreover, Zocdoc has a detailed profile for each listed provider, meaning you can carefully scrutinize a physician's background before making a choice. These profiles include the doctor's medical degrees, their board certifications and licensure, and their top clinical interests. You can also take a look at their customer ratings.

In case you are worried about budget, make sure to find an in-network provider. Add your insurance carrier's name to the search query — and we will display the best doctors near you that accept your insurance. Thanks to our comprehensive directory and powerful search algorithms, you can find the best urgent care providers in Las Vegas.

Urgent Care Statistics — Las Vegas and Nevada

Approximately 20% of adults in the United States seek medical attention in an emergency room. According to the National Institutes of Health, between 13.7 and 27.1 percent of all emergency department visits could be handled in alternate care venues, such as urgent care centers. Overall, this may save an estimated $4.4 billion each year.

The average wait time to see a doctor in the United States is 18 minutes and 13 seconds across specialties — 22 seconds down from the last year's figure. However, according to Vitals' annual Physician Wait Time Report, patient wait times vary dramatically across cities. With a wait time of 21 minutes and 19 seconds, Las Vegas is ranked fourth out of the five cities with the shortest wait periods, according to the report.

Sources

• U.S. News
• Medical Surge and the Role of Urgent Care Centers (Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange)
• Cleveland Clinic
• World Health Organization
• How Many Emergency Department Visits Could Be Managed at Urgent Care Centers and Retail Clinics (Weinick, R. M., Burns, R. M., & Mehrotra, A.)
• Becker's Hospital Review

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.