What’s The Difference Between An Emergency Room, Urgent Care Center And Standard Provider?

Have you found yourself typing in, “How do I find a 24 hour emergency room near me?” Like most Americans, you’re concerned about your healthcare and how accessible it can be to all stages of your life. From minor and easily treated injuries to more life-threatening scenarios, it’s important to know just where to turn to in your time of need. Rather than spend excess money on expensive laboratory services and sit through long waiting times, look below to learn about the difference between emergency rooms, urgent care and your general provider. This way you can stay healthy without worrying about your finances.

Quick Facts

The United States is seeing major changes in healthcare. This has left millions scrambling to contact their providers and type in questions such as, “What’s the function of urgent care?” or “Is there a 24 hour emergency room near me?” As of now there are around 20,000 physicians who are currently practicing urgent care medicine. This number is growing exponentially year after year as more people recognize the importance of an essential in-between for emergency room visits and standard doctor visits.

Emergency Rooms

The function of an emergency room is to provide immediate care to life-threatening illnesses, injuries or allergic reactions. Emergency room visits now total 110 million every year. When you ask, “Can I find a 24 hour emergency room near me?”, you’re asking about how to stay safe when life takes an unexpected turn. It’s important to determine whether or not your medical center is open when you need it. Chest pain, pediatric care and abdominal pain can all be assessed and treated when you fear you or your loved one is in danger. For visits that aren’t emergencies but still require immediate attention?

Urgent Care

An urgent care center is an absolute must to keep people safe and healthy. Treating minor to moderate issues with small waiting times, your urgent care center is the ideal resource to get you back on your feet after a major cut, burn, sprain, reaction or strain. The average reimbursement for an urgent care visit has been found to total $100 per patient. Compare this to the emergency room which is closer to $300. Urgent care clinics often average seven exam and treatment rooms to better treat all who arrive at their doors.

General Providers

There are times to seek out emergency centers, times to drop by your local family urgent care and times to see your general provider. A regular doctor or nurse can provide you with check-ups, vaccinations and suggestions for extensive care should you need physical therapy or more robust services. If you’re insured, many clinics offer sliding scale payment plans to ensure your basic physical, dental and mental care is still covered.

Using All Of Your Medical Resources

You deserve effective treatment. More importantly, you deserve treatment that is provided quickly, patiently and efficiently. The field of family medicine and urgent care is an ever-growing one, attempting to keep up with the United States’ already impressive demand. The nation is expected to be short more than 90,000 physicians by the time 2020 arrives, meaning it’s more important than ever to ensure the safety of you and your family. The emergency room, urgent care and standard clinics are here to help.