Urgent care services, have in recent years, have become one of the leading trends in healthcare. Part of the reason for its popularity is access to convenient and affordable healthcare services.

Containing healthcare costs through conventional techniques is becoming increasingly challenging. Many people have been looking to find an affordable and reliable option outside the traditional hospital system.

You can think of urgent care facilities as falling somewhere in-between the physician’s office and the emergency room. Certain conditions may be critical, but they are not considered to be an emergency. In this article, we look at how these facilities have been enhancing healthcare in recent years.

Emergency Room Overcrowding

Congestion in the emergency department can increase the time it takes to access healthcare. Oregon State and Health University’s research on overcrowding found that it negatively impacts the patient’s experience. The study also found that delays are creating significant obstacles to ideal health outcomes.

Statistics from the CDC also indicate that 70% of the 145 million patients who visit the ED annually, have to contend with long waiting lines. Many people facing delays, will not get their prescriptions, or start their treatment program on time.

By dealing with conditions that could overburden the emergency rooms, urgent care is helping to reduce the expenses from complications and the risks associated with delay. Not only is it beneficial for healthcare, but also for those who need a convenient and affordable service.

Urgent Care is A Cost-Effective and Convenient option

Some conditions are serious, but they are not life-threatening. Your illness may cause discomfort or pain, such that you cannot carry on without seeing a doctor. Urgent care centers have medical professionals that can examine and treat the following health issues:

• Bleeding and cuts from accidents requiring stitches
• Eye problems
• Fever and flu vaccines
• Skin rashes and dermatology services
• Nausea and Diarrhea
• Painful Sprains

Whether you want a flu shot or to see a dermatology professional, you can have the option to walk in or book an appointment. Most urgent care centers will take credit cards or cash. They also accept a wider range of insurance policies.

Enhancing Healthcare Accessibility

Do you know that as many as 80,000 people have been dying of the flu in recent years? Healthcare researchers continue to emphasize the importance of vaccinations as the best preventive measure. The Flu is so common that many people choose to ignore getting treatment.

Going to a primary care physician may subject the patient to delays, even for vaccinations. You may have to wait for several days, and sometimes up to a week before you can get a vaccine. But with urgent care, the options are much faster and convenient.

For example, if you have a rash, your primary care physician may not be able to see you right away. The condition may be difficult to bear as you wait, but at the same time, it may not be suitable for the ED. Urgent care allows you to walk in when you have an illness or when you need to see a dermatology professional.

Accessibility

Urgent care gives you access to a wide range of quality healthcare services. While retail clinics offer quick and convenient access, there are limits to the kind of care you can get. You cannot have an x-ray, treat sports injuries like sprains, or go for nosebleeds in retail, medical facilities.

Patients today can walk into a facility and get treatment at a reasonable cost. More people can now use urgent care for conditions that would require them to wait, or compel them to ignore seeing a doctor. The facilities have professionals with the requisite qualification to provide the highest level of healthcare service.

In Conclusion

Urgent care facilities are becoming a popular healthcare option. They have more qualified professionals than typical walk-in clinics. Whether you are looking for a dermatology professional or a vaccine, Care Station Medical has convenient and easily accessible services. Call us or visit our online portal today.