Urgent Care or Emergency Room?

 

You have probably seen multiple urgent care centers developing around your city. Do you know which one is appropriate to visit? If you are feeling ill and you have the choice between the emergency department of your local hospital or the local urgent care center, which one will you visit? What if you are injured? Although urgent care centers are quickly expanding all over, many people are still confused as to the differences.

Urgent care for less serious of conditions.

Have you ever debated going to the emergency department, telling yourself that your injury does not warrant an emergency? Yet, you do not want to wait all weekend to possibly get an appointment with your primary physician. The urgent care setting is perfect for this situation. You will receive ER care without the wait, and you will not be filling up the emergency waiting room, making those with emergencies wait longer.

Emergency rooms are known for their long waits. Part of the problem is that those with mild emergencies or those who simply do not want to wait for their medical office to open are filling them up. According to a report from Truven Health Analytics, more than 70% of emergency department visits from patients with consumer sponsored insurance coverage are for non emergency conditions or conditions easily preventable through simply outpatient care.

Urgent care is more cost effective.

Emergency care can be expensive. They often charge much more than what you would pay at your primary physician?s office. You may even be required to pay for services and fees that you are not responsible for with your primary physician. In fact, 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.

In addition to ER care without the wait, patients seeking relief can receive a more cost effective medical approach. This convenient medical treatment model is extremely beneficial for those with no or limited medical insurance coverage, or those who are unable to pay the copays from the insurance company that may be higher in an emergency center setting

Urgent care for convenience.

Although emergency centers are open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, they may not be very close. Those who live in rural settings may have to drive for a long distance before reaching their local emergency room. Others who live closer to the emergency room, may find the parking and process difficult, because most emergency rooms are connected to the local hospital. Urgent care centers tend to be located in more accessible locations.

Americans rely heavily on the 24 hours access to care provided by emergency departments, AD visits have increased by 22% over the past decade. Most people enjoy the easy hours and that they do not have to make an appointment. This is especially beneficial for those with busy schedules. The urgent care center offers the ER care without the wait that so many people prefer.

Urgent care for great medical care.

The medical care that is provided at urgent care centers is just as extensive as the local emergency room. In fact, most urgent care centers are operated by physicians themselves. A physician or group of physician owns approximately 50% of urgent care centers. You are likely to find a physician or registered nurse on staff, at all times. They can provide medical care for a variety of conditions, including cuts, injuries, illnesses, and even comprehensive specialized pediatric care.

If you were given the opportunity of an urgent care setting or the local emergency department for medical care, which one would you choose? Would you understand the differences between the two? You are likely to choose the one that is more convenient, more cost effective, and can provide the same level of care as any other medical setting. You would probably choose the urgent care setting for ER care without the wait.