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What Is The Difference Between A Walk-In Clinic And An Urgent Care Center?

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Maintaining good health is necessary for a happy life. If you are still trying to figure out a form of insurance that suits your budget, you may want to seek out the nearest walk in clinic in the meantime so you’re not without care. Walk in clinics are prime resources for people of all shapes and sizes, providing basic care from medical tests, flu shots, check-ups and more. Likewise, urgent care centers are a necessary component for minor to moderate illnesses and injuries that would be too expensive to treat at a hospital. If you’re a little confused about the difference between all these different resources, read below for a crash course on healthcare in the United States.

How Many Clinics Are There?

The United States alone has over 6,800 urgent care centers and walk in clinics, the majority of which are located in freestanding buildings. Originally the urgent care movement began back in the 1970’s, growing exponentially around the world as a result. Studies have shown two-thirds of centers employing a mixture of physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, with 65% of all clinics having a physician on-site at all times. With a hefty population and a wide variety of illnesses and injuries to treat on a daily basis, the nearest walk in clinic is a must for any family or individual.

What Do Clinics And Urgent Care Centers Provide?

While walk in clinics and urgent care locations share some similarities to your standard hospital, they are also markedly different. They are frequently used for more minor injuries and illnesses, as well as time-sensitive issues that can’t wait for a scheduled meeting with a doctor. Some of the services provided by walk in clinics include, but are not limited to — flu shots, cheap STD testing, pediatric care, stitches, allergy medication and medical tests.

What Are Common Illnesses?

The season is getting colder, which means a host of common illnesses are going to start cropping up and requiring the resources of the nearest walk in clinic. On average anywhere from 5% to 20% of Americans will come down with the flu on a yearly basis — compare to the common colds, of which there are an estimated one billion outbreaks annually. The average child will catch between six and 10 colds per year, with the illness spreading easily through shared objects, constant sneezing and a lack of awareness around hand washing.

What Are Common Injuries?

Compare to minor injuries, many of which aren’t severe enough for an ambulance but are painful enough to require immediate medical attention to ensure the condition doesn’t worsen. Studies have shown there are approximately seven million bones broken in the United States every year. The typical emergency department visit can cost around $1,500 — compare to treatment at an urgent care, which costs an average of under $150. A study conducted by the Rand Corporation back in 2010 found that nearly one in five visits to the ER could have been treated at an urgent care center, saving as much as $4 billion in healthcare costs.

Which Option Is Right For Me?

Healthcare comes in many different forms. It’s important to know the difference between your standard hospital, an urgent care center and a walk in clinic if you want your needs accurately resolved all days of the year. To get your basic care covered, visiting the nearest walk in clinic will help you with check-ups, shots and prescribed medications accordingly. Should you twist an ankle or receive a burn, an urgent care center can treat you in a time-sensitive manner. Last, but not least, if the issue is life-threatening and immediate you need to call an ambulance. For your everyday and basic needs, your nearest walk in clinic should become your next best friend.

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The Truth About After Hours Health Care In America

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In case of emergency, we all know what number to call or where to drive to, as fast as possible: 911, and the emergency room. But you’d be surprised how many people there are that don’t go to the emergency room for dramatic accidents. In fact, of the estimated 110 patients who visit urgent care centers or the ER every week, a study by the Rand Corporation found that nearly one in five were not sick enough to be admitted to the hospital, but said that they sought out health care at the ER because their physicians offices were closed.

This is true for many people — only about 29% of primary care doctors have after-hours coverage. When there are no urgent care centers around, or people don’t know about them and the services they offer, they tend to resort to the emergency room, fees for which can be exorbitant.

Getting to know your nearby urgent care centers can be a serious life saver — they are about 6, 800 of them in the U.S., and they tend to employ a mix of nurse practitioners, physicians, and physicians assistants. 65% make sure to have a qualified physician on call at all times.

Urgent care centers are especially good because their staff and functions are designed for high volumes and the need for immediate care. Calling ahead while driving can further prepare them to better accommodate your needs.

The urgent care movement began in the 1970s, and since then has grown exponentially around the globe in response to the need to have somewhere to go that wasn’t quite the hospital. This is especially important for areas where the hospital is too far to travel, or people don’t have the comfort of accessible transportation to get them there.

Not only that, but the urgent care movement could mean a healthier America at large. On average, about 5- 20% of Americans come down with the flu every year, and they get a billion colds a year. About 6.8 million bones are broken each year, and a large amount of people in serious pain and discomfort, not to mention who are contagious, don’t seek health care because they believe that they can’t afford it.