Tips to Get the Best Results from Your Urgent Care Visit

27 May, 2021

Urgent cares provide prompt medical attention and treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses, for example, minor cuts, burns, sprains, rashes, flu, etc. In other words, it is the care or treatment provided to outpatients in case of acute and/or chronic injuries and illnesses that must be addressed within 24 hours. Hence, an urgent care provider needs to possess a comprehensive knowledge base to offer such a broad array of care.

Seeking urgent care doesn’t mean you don’t need your primary care physician. In fact, it is an additional option in case your physician is unavailable or unable to schedule an appointment on time. An urgent care clinic can save the day in case you are in immediate need of medical help. Their goal is to provide the best care in a convenient and timely manner. It is also a cheaper and faster alternative to hospital emergency rooms that can cost quite a bit more for the treatment of injury or illness that is not life-threatening.

Here are some tips that can help you get the most out of your urgent care visit.

Know What Problems an Urgent Care Clinic Can Handle

Urgent care clinics can only handle minor injuries such as minor sports injuries, cuts, burns, fractures, animal bites, etc., that only require stitches. Besides, they can also diagnose and provide treatment for minor illnesses, for example, headaches, earaches, coughs, flu, sore throats, minor breathing problems, and high fevers.

These clinics are unable to handle serious or life-threatening medical conditions. Therefore, in an absolute emergency, it is recommended to go to an emergency room. Visiting an urgent care center will only lead to delayed treatment because they will most likely refer the patient to an ER.

Have Enough Time for Your Visit

Urgent care clinics generally provide care to patients on a first-come, first-served basis. According to this, your urgent care appointment may take around one hour or less. However, many times, you may also need to wait a little longer, for instance, if previous patients’ treatment takes more time than usual. You may call your care provider to check on waiting times, but your estimated wait time may change by the time you reach there. 

Thus, it would be best to stay calm instead of being anxious if it takes more time. Also, confirm the clinic’s hours before visiting because they might be unable to attend you if you reach there moments before their closing time.

Make Sure You Take Your Insurance Card Along

MedPRO contracted urgent care clinics typically accept most healthcare insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. And you will need your insurance card to claim for your treatment.

In some cases, you may have a copay for the costs of urgent care at the time of service. Copays for urgent care are generally a little more than the copay for your regular doctor’s fee but less than an ER visit.

Don’t Hesitate to Talk about Your Medical History

If you have visited the clinic before, they will have some information on your medical history. Otherwise, be ready to answer some basic but necessary questions the doctor will ask to safely diagnose your problem and appropriately provide treatment.

Do not hesitate to talk about any chronic conditions, allergies you might have suffered with, any medications you take, such as supplements, vitamins, prescription drugs, or over-the-counter medicines. If the doctor prescribes you medicines, make sure you take them on time as per the doctor’s advice.

Know if There’s a need for a Follow-up Appointment

Once you are done with the treatment and are about to leave the clinic, check if you need a follow-up visit. In some cases, if your symptoms don’t get better, return, or worsen, you must follow up. Sometimes, you may need to visit again to complete the provided treatment; for example, your doctor can recall you to remove sutures once the cut heals properly.

Look for this information on your discharge instructions sheet in case you forget to ask.

Keep Your Primary Care Physician in the Loop

Even if you know you are not going to see your primary care doctor, it is advised to call them and inform them about your visit to an urgent care clinic. This is helpful as they can note it in your chart (if you are already taking some medicines), and this will ensure your medical record gets updated.

It will be even better if you ask for a hard copy of the records about your urgent care visit; they can help you with this by either giving the documents to you or sending them directly to your doctor.

Conclusion:

In this segment, we have discussed almost all essential points you need to consider when needing urgent care. Urgent care clinics and centers are convenient and affordable to receive urgent treatment for minor and non-life threatening conditions. Now you might figure out when to choose urgent care for your medical need and understand what these facilities can and cannot treat so that you can make a timely decision about where to go for medical treatment.

Your family doctor might be your first choice, but when they cannot give you an appointment for a minor or acute problem, you can count on an urgent care clinic that offers the same level of medical care. However, if you still experience difficulty scheduling an appointment or couldn’t find a doctor, get the best and reliable medical providers at CVMedPro. Feel free to call us at (877) 216-4215 or local: 559.450.6334 or visit our website – www.cvmedpro.com.