Emergency Department or Urgent Care, Which is More Appropriate For Your Needs?

Medical centers and health care has advanced and evolved, just as everything else in our world continues to do. Many years ago, if you sustained an injury or were feeling ill, you had to wait to see the one doctor in your city. Today, however, you have many more medical care options. You can make an appointment with your chosen medical professional online or you can visit the local emergency department. Additionally, you can also visit an urgent care center, which tends to be a mix of the both. All of these options can make it difficult to decide which type of medical care is appropriate for your current condition. What if you injure yourself after hours, and you are left with the decision between the emergency room and the local urgent care center?

Urgent care centers have become very popular over the years. They are a great option for those who seek immediate care, but cannot wait until the office hours of their medical professional. They are also a great option for those who have an injury or illness that does not warrant the emergency of visiting the emergency department of their local hospital. There are currently 20,000 physicians who practice Urgent Care Medicine today, and the number is growing. Urgent care professionals have developed Urgent Care Medicine into an important, recognized specialty that represents this fast growing medical field.

Urgent care settings have found a unique place in the medical field. They have become so important that some hospital models are even equipped with both medical care facilities. In the near future, you are likely to visit the hospital to see both the emergency department and the urgent care clinic next to one another, making the question of which care setting is more appropriate for you even more important.

Hospital emergency centers are better equipped to deal with life threatening emergencies. If you are experiencing a medical concern that is life threatening, it is best to visit the local emergency centers room. Emergency care is generally located in a hospital setting, making testing and life saving treatments more accessible. Things like chest pains and dangerous wounds or injuries should always visit the emergency centers immediately.

Those patients who are ill or have a minor injury may find more benefit at their local urgent care setting. The urgent care is generally ideal for those who could wait for their primary care office to open, but would be more comfortable seeing a physician as soon as possible. Urgent care centers offer patients with a convenient medical treatment option. Urgent care centers may be limited on their access to advanced diagnostic and laboratory services, not making it an ideal choice for medical care visits that require laboratory testing services.

Urgent care settings are a convenient quality and cost. The emergency room is a higher capacity medical treatment option, which also often translated to higher costs. Average reimbursement for an urgent care visit is approximately $103 per patient, compared with $302 per patient on average in a hospital emergency department, according to the report.

Another difference between the two types of medical care centers is wait time. Emergency centers are often full of patients who require medical care, resulting in higher wait times. Urgent care centers patients usually have a choice whether to wait or to schedule an appointment with their healthcare professional, resulting in lower wait times. Roughly 60% of all urgent care centers have a wait time of less than 15 minutes to see a physician or mid level provider, and 65% have a physician on site at all times.

Medical care has changed and will continue to change. Urgent care centers have become an important part of our medical field. Patents now have two choices for after hours care. They can visit an emergency department for severe medical concerns. They can also visit their local urgent care center for the convenience of their hours and when they cannot comfortable wait to schedule an appointment with their primary care medical provider.