We often rush to the ER (emergency room) when in need of 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. Nevertheless, 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.
Urgent care focuses on illnesses or injuries that require immediate attention but are not life-threatening. A few examples of such conditions include upper respiratory infections, minor issues with breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, and sprains. Urgent care specialists do not perform surgeries; they are only equipped to care for minor wounds and perform skin lesion removal.
At the same time, this restricted scope allows urgent care centers to deliver affordable and efficient health care. As a result, patients are led back on the path to recovery in the shortest amount of time. Approximately 8,100 urgent care centers in the United States provide their services to 30 to 50 patients each day, on average. 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
In comparison to urgent care centers, retail clinics typically treat lower acuity cases. They meet the demand for rapid, less sophisticated health care outside of the doctor's office and emergency departments. Patients may visit a retail clinic for the treatment of basic illnesses, such as a sore throat or earache, as well as 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. They're mostly found at pharmacies, supermarkets, "big box" stores, and other large retail chains. At such medical clinics, patients may or may not consult with physicians or primary care providers. Consultations are usually brief, lasting no more than 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.
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. Most centers have on-site laboratories and X-ray machines. That’s why patients can benefit from diagnosis and medical advice, without needing to leave 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 — with some even operating 24 hours a day. Sometimes, urgent care facilities do not require scheduled appointments. You can see a physician whenever convenient.
While emergency rooms are always staffed with 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.
To help you understand what conditions are treated at a retail clinic versus an urgent care center, here's a list of the most common ones.
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 are including 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 who specialize 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 of 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 received training in assessing patient requirements, ordering and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests, identifying illnesses, and formulating and prescribing treatment strategies.
Urgent Care Medicine Facilities Near You
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 easily look 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 individual pages, 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 procedures. 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.
Patients do not pay to book an appointment on Zocdoc. All bookings are safe, secure, and completely free.
Urgent care and COVID-19 in Phoenix
Urgent care has witnessed a sudden surge over the past few years. According to the Urgent Care Association, urgent care centers witnessed a 60% increase in patient volume from 2019 to 2022. This includes both the traditional and covid visits. The average volume of urgent care visits per clinic per day increased from 32 in 2019 to 46 in 2021. This was in large part due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Maricopa county, the average covid cases as on 25th August 2022 is 640 per day, as reported by The New York Times. In the city of Phoenix, approximately 10 per 100,000 residents, are being hospitalized due to covid per day. Many of these require acute care through either emergency departments or urgent care centers. Luckily, Phoenix is one of the more concentrated markets in the country for urgent care clinics with nearly 300 locations throughout the valley.
Sources:
American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine (AAUCM)
Experity
American Board of Physician Specialties
Community Catalyst
Statista
MedlinePlus
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine
Harvard Health Publishing
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
Urgent Care Association
The New York Times
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