There are countless types of medical professionals with various specializations. It can seem impossible to figure out who you should go see for a specific issue. Many people go to an urgent care clinic expecting the right kind of medical professional to be there, but sometimes they should be going to a hospital instead. Below are some of the specific types of healthcare providers you’ll find at urgent care so you’ll know where you should be going during different situations.

Primary Care Physicians

Primary care physicians can cover a whole slew of different medical practices. They are trained in general outpatient care to successfully treat anyone and anything that they come across. These healthcare providers are necessary for any urgent care center to deal with the constant influx of patients. They have patients of every age, ranging from infants to seniors, though certain types of primary care physicians have their own specialties. Both family medicine physicians and internal medicine physicians fall into the category of primary care. Here are some of the differences between the two:

Family Medicine

• As the name suggests, family medicine physicians perform their services on people of all ages, working with infants to elderly patients.
• Family medicine also focuses on general outpatient care instead of a specific specialty, since their patients range so much in age.
• They are able to diagnose and manage illnesses and chronic conditions and are trained in preventative care as well.

Internal Medicine

• Internal medicine physicians work only with adults aged 18 and up.
• They are trained in general medicine and specialty areas like dermatology, orthopedics, sleep medicine, infectious diseases, and others.
• Internal medicine physicians have intensive training in outpatient care as well as inpatient treatment.

Nurse Practitioners

These medical professionals focus on delivering high-level patient care, usually working under the supervision of a physician. This is only required in some states, however. If they’re working at an urgent care center, they may hold specific qualifications that focus on a group of people, such as women’s care. They are trained to provide a broad variety of care for patients of all ages.

X-Ray Technicians

Properly titled “radiological technologists,” x-ray technicians scan bodies with x-ray machines to check and see if the patient has a broken bone. They do much more than this, however. These physicians are trained in several different types of machinery, ranging from CT scanners to MRIs. They also are trained in the proper handling of both the machinery and the patient during scanning. They are certified in their position and usually assist radiologists in their work.

Emergency Medicine Physicians

As the name suggests, these physicians work with emergency situations that occur in urgent care clinics. They have plenty of experience working in emergency rooms in hospitals, so they are trained well in high-risk situations and will be able to handle anything that is thrown at them. These professionals are typically faced with patients that need immediate diagnosis and treatment, such as in trauma situations or multiple organ dysfunction. Their care for these patients can last anywhere from hours to weeks at a time.

Sports Medicine Physicians

These physicians are used to seeing injuries from athletes, hence their name. Sports medicine physicians are able to provide treatments for any sprains, broken bones, torn muscles, tendons, or ligaments on patients that might walk through their door. This makes the care top-notch, due to the patient being able to receive their treatment without having to find a different healthcare building and proceed with the same insurance and liability steps they originally had to at the first location. Being able to receive treatment in an urgent care clinic allows patients to begin their road to recovery immediately.

According to a report done by the Urgent Care Association, during the 2016 fiscal year, urgent care centers located in the United States reported an average of over 15,000 patient care visits. That number increased significantly after COVID-19. Many urgent care clinics shut down during the COVID-19 outbreak. Those that stayed open to help people in need proved themselves to be reliable. Ensure the care you are getting is the best around. Call Care Station Medical Group and receive your healthcare services today from the best medical professionals around.