Urgent Care Clinic Q&A

Urgent Care Clinics handle health concerns that require treatment on the same day. They often operate on a walk-in basis but can provide more comprehensive and complex care than a standard walk-in clinic. It is important to keep in mind that urgent Care Clinics are not as well equipped as emergency rooms and cannot handle life threatening emergencies.

Urgent Care should not be used as a replacement for primary care as they see many different patients over the course of a day and do not keep extensive medical records. This means that the doctors who see you in Urgent Care will not have a comprehensive picture of your overall health and be unaware of any specific health needs or concerns you may have.

Most urgent care clinics do not require an appointment and operate on a walk-in basis. As they often deal with unexpected injuries that need same day treatment, they often keep longer hours than most primary care physicians. They are often well regarded for the speed of care that they provide to patients.

Immediate Care is designed for those who need to see a doctor immediately for acute or chronic concerns, usually dispensing advice, referrals, or prescriptions. They do not handle urgent or emergency concerns and are not equipped for dealing with them. For example, Immediate Care would not be able to provide treatment or stitches for a cut whereas an Urgent Care Clinic will be able to handle that.

While your primary care physician can often provide the same care as an Urgent Care Clinic, they usually take a few days to schedule an appointment. So you should go to an Urgent Care Clinic when you require same day treatment of an ailment or injury that is not an emergency. What the clinic is equipped to handle will vary from clinic to clinic but most of them are able to provide treatment for minor burns, cuts with low blood loss that may require stitches, non-life-threatening allergic reactions, rashes, colds, strep-throat, urinary tract infections, bug bites, stings, diarrhea, nosebleeds, STIs and bruises. Some urgent care clinics are even able to handle minor fractures that require splints or casts.

Urgent Care Clinics operate on a first come, first serve basis as opposed to emergency rooms where the most severe cases are handled first. Patients who utilize urgent care often find that they will see a doctor and receive care much quicker than they would at the emergency room. Comparing the two, the average wait time in the ER is 2.4 hours and the average wait time in most urgent care centers is 15 to 45 minutes before you see a doctor. It is important to note that Urgent Care is often cheaper than the emergency room, usually having comparable prices to your primary care physician.

So if you are in the Addison, Texas area and require immediate care do not hesitate to drop by at North Tex MedCare Clinic and Urgent Care Clinic to have your concerns addressed as quickly and efficiently as possible. Call us or schedule an appointment online! We serve patients from Allen TX, Fort Worth TX, San Antonio TX, Addison TX, Plano TX, Frisco TX, Terrell Hills TX, Carrollton TX, Richardson TX, China Grove TX, Farmers Branch TX, Hebron TX, Forest Hill TX, Leon Valley TX, Fairview TX, Parker TX, Lucas TX and BEYOND.