Mistakes to Avoid when Visiting an Urgent Care Facility

It’s been shown that urgent care centers can be a more convenient option for those needing routine or urgent care. Looking at all the benefits, it’s easy to see why. Patient wait times are significantly lower with 57% waiting 15 minutes or less and 80% spending less than 60 minutes in the waiting room. Extended hours help families with majority opening before 9 a.m., operating on Saturday and Sunday, and staying open until at least 7 p.m. for majority and 9 p.m. for about 40%. Although this convenience can help convince us to go, there are some mistakes that you want to avoid before heading that way. Read below to see some of these mistakes and how to avoid them.

Insurance

Know your insurance and what it covers before going to an urgent care facility. You should ensure that your preferred urgent care centers accept your insurance. On top of checking this be sure to check for the copay. Sometimes the copay for urgent care services differs from primary care services, although they are still significantly cheaper than emergency room visits.

Prescriptions

Since you are seeing a different doctor than your normal doctor make sure to take your medications with you. This can help ensure that the doctor at urgent care doesn’t give you medications that may interfere with current medications. Also ensure that they are aware of your medical history and any past medical problems, since this information is not readily available for them to see.

Refills

Just as you should ensure they know your entire medical history, you should know that all medicines can be prescribed by the doctors at an urgent care center. Medications for chronic conditions can not be refilled at these locations. If you are needing a refill you must go to your doctor who prescribed the medication.

All Centers are the Same

While it is true that most urgent care centers can provide the same types of care, this may not be the case for all centers. Make sure to call and see what services are offered before heading to one. One center may have the means to do X-rays and put it in a splint, while another one only has the means to provide stitches for lacerations. It’s always a good idea to check before hand so there are no surprises when you get there.

Avoid making these mistakes before heading to your nearest urgent care center. The process will be simpler and easier and no one’s time will be wasted. Remember urgent care facilities can’t replace the care you receive from a specialty doctor for health problems, and they don’t replace emergency rooms for life threatening conditions.