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Urgent care centers

Medicine caters to the science and practice of providing care to a patient, including the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and palliation of disease. It has come a long way, with 'convenience care' as the latest step in its evolution. Also known as urgent care clinics, these facilities are now increasingly popular in the United States healthcare sector. According to the Urgent Care Association, the number of urgent care centers climbed from 6,400 in 2014 to 8,100 in 2018. In fact, by 2021, facilities that provide acute care might be worth approximately $38.5 billion, according to an estimate.

Patients prefer going to urgent care centers because they are more convenient than going to a hospital emergency department — especially when they cannot see their regular doctor or do not want to travel to a hospital's ER (emergency room). When one's regular care physician is absent, these clinics provide convenient access to high-quality care. This may also explain their popularity, as one in five respondents in a 2016 NPR survey said they couldn't see their primary care physician in the past two years (because of a shortage of available appointment hours).

Sometimes, patients use urgent care centers as a first stop, sending them for a follow-up visit to emergency departments. This is because urgent care clinics do not conduct major surgeries or provide care for long-term chronic conditions. However, according to data published by the Urgent Care Association of America, only 3% of patients who attended an urgent care center in 2016 had to be referred or transferred to an emergency department.

Across the country, urgent care clinics provide a wide range of services. Some clinics offer services comparable to those found in an emergency department (ED). The team at ED comprises one or more board-certified emergency medicine physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Most EDs also have advanced diagnostic equipment such as CT, MRI scans, X-rays, and various on-site laboratory services. UCCs, on the other hand, are staffed by general care physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants and have limited diagnostic equipment. These facilities frequently consist only of point-of-care testing like blood pressure and sugar testing. They also supply only a limited number of prescription drugs.

Urgent care medicine providers

In general, acute care physicians have to be quick on their feet, have a presence of mind, make sound medical decisions, and work well under pressure. Urgent care providers include licensed physicians. Like any other medical professional, they have a bachelor's degree followed by medical training. Depending on the residency and fellowship completed, they can be specialists in fields like emergency medicine. Critical care providers generally further their education by completing the following:

• A critical care medicine fellowship (after a residency in internal medicine). Such fellowships usually last for two years.
• An advanced general internal medicine fellowship, which involves six months of rigorous training in critical care medicine.
• An internal medicine specialism fellowship (with an additional year's clinical fellowship training). Students can also specialize in cardiovascular disease or gastrointestinal illness.

Urgent care physicians standardly attain board certification in their primary specialty or the discipline in which they completed their residency training. The American Board of Internal Medical of Surgery and the American Board of Pediatrics can award such certification in critical care medicine. An urgent care physician must be licensed in the states where they intend to practice. Criteria for licensure and board certification may differ across states.

Urgent care or ER: Which is the right choice?

People often get confused about whether to go to an ER or an urgent care center when they are hit with a sudden injury or illness. However, some fundamental differences between these two medical facilities can help you decide which is best for your needs. 

• Wait time: Urgent care clinics usually have a smaller area to cover than emergency rooms, so they will get to you faster and be able to treat your injury or illness right away. Emergency rooms tend to have long wait times because of their large patient base and the extensive testing required to rule out more serious ailments. 
• Cost: Emergency rooms are more expensive than urgent care clinics because they provide extensive testing and usually require many nurses and doctors on hand at all times in case something more serious develops. Urgent care clinics are equipped with only the most advanced medical equipment so that you can receive treatment immediately without waiting for test results.

• The severity of the condition: All ERs manage life or limb-threatening conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes over 100 conditions that require immediate ER treatment. These include broken bones, severe burns, heart attacks, head injuries, severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing or swallowing, seizures, excessive bleeding, poisoning, and loss of consciousness for more than 1 hour.

Although urgent care clinics can't handle all these conditions, they are well-equipped to treat many common illnesses and injuries that may not require immediate medical attention. These include cold and flu symptoms, sprains and bruises, stomach viruses, minor cuts and scrapes, rashes and mild infections, Urinary tract infections (UTIs), burns less than 5 percent of your body, and mild head injuries with the patient still being conscious. 

You will have to be transferred to the ER if there is any possibility that your injury or illness could become serious since urgent care facilities are not equipped to cater to life-threatening emergencies. However, an urgent care clinic will likely provide better service if you have an illness or injury that does not require immediate attention. You can visit a doctor immediately at an urgent care near you without waiting hours to be seen by a professional.

Things to know before visiting an urgent care center

Urgent care centers are a good idea if you have a minor medical problem or need additional medical services such as blood tests and vaccines. Here are a few things you need to know about urgent care centers before you go.

Check in online if possible.

Many urgent care clinics are walk-in facilities, so you do not need a scheduled appointment to see a healthcare provider. Since you do not require a booking, your wait time can differ depending on how many individuals are ahead of you. It may take you anywhere between 20 minutes to an hour to see a healthcare practitioner.

Some urgent care centers also accept appointments. So, before you arrive, call a center to see if you can book a specific time slot to reduce your wait time.

Find a suitable center for your needs.

If you have health insurance, it is crucial to pick a center that takes your insurance plan (and is in-network, if applicable) to lower your out-of-pocket expenses.

Also, choose a facility that specializes in the care you require. This can be beneficial if the urgent care facility interacts effectively with your doctor's office. For example, some urgent care centers specialize in pediatric care, making them an excellent choice if your child needs medical attention. Some centers specifically focus on women's health or orthopedics.

It can be helpful to learn about a facility for urgent care near you beforehand and familiarize yourself with the center's offerings and operation hours.

Know what to bring with you.

Urgent care centers do not keep a detailed record of a patient's medical history like a typical doctor's office does. Bring any essential medical documents to the facility to expedite treatment and ensure the best possible care.

The documents can include your recent health insurance information and the names of prescribed medicines you are currently taking. Also, bring a list of your major medical diagnosis and vaccination history.

Also, if your child has a primary care doctor or a pediatrician, keep the doctor's name and office contact information handy. If you are bringing someone under 18 who is not your child, do have their parental authorization document.

You should carry a picture ID to verify your identification. You will also need to plan for payments or copays due during the visit.

Choosing an urgent care center for yourself

Per the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), urgent care centers are rapidly expanding and, at present, outnumber emergency rooms in the United States. Patients prefer visiting urgent care centers and retail clinics over regular hospital emergency rooms due to shorter wait times and more affordable treatment costs. This is how urgent care centers help enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare.

Looking for suitable urgent care clinics may appear challenging at first. However, Zocdoc allows you to search for top-rated urgent care near you. Thanks to our comprehensive directory, you will see a list of facilities and providers near the target area within seconds. Patients can also choose providers that accept their preferred insurance network. Enter your insurance carrier's name, and we will show the best in-network providers in Orlando.

You can learn more about a doctor's specialty, education, board certification, state and city licensure, and hospital connections by visiting Zocdoc. The profiles also list the procedures and conditions that they can treat.

When you shortlist a doctor on Zocdoc, you can also scan through the doctor's detailed profile. To add to the credibility factor, honest patient reviews are also provided to ensure that you choose the best doctor as per your needs.

Booking with Zocdoc comes at no cost — it is simple, secure, and 100% free!

Orlando, FL—emergency room wait times

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reported about 144.9 million emergency department visits in 2017, representing a 50 percent increase since 1995. However, the increase is due to more than just population growth. Emergency room visits have also increased, with 445 trips per thousand residents in 2017, up from 360 in 1995.

The Kaiser Family Foundation and CDC published a list of the states with the longest and shortest emergency room wait times in the United States. According to the survey, Florida has one of the longest wait times, with admitted patients waiting an average of 107 minutes and discharged patients waiting an average of 144 minutes. There were around 438 patient visits to the emergency rooms per 1000 population, and approximately one percent of patients left without consulting a physician.

Sources

American College of Physicians

American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine

American College of Emergency Physicians

American Board of Physician Specialties

Medical Surge and the Role of Urgent Care Centers (Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange)

AutoInsurance.org

Mayo Clinic Health System

Debt.org

Healthline

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.