It is important to remember that while urgent care facilities are convenient and capable of handling many everyday illnesses and injuries, they are not a substitute for the hospital’s Emergency Department. If you have symptoms of a serious condition (example: chest pain, stroke symptoms, shortness of breath. etc.), you should go the nearest Emergency Department, dial 911 or, at least, contact your own physician.

However, in the event you experience a minor emergency and are not able to reach your primary care physician (after hours, out of town, no available appointments, etc.) an urgent care facility is often an alterative to the Emergency Department. These facilities help reduce the burden on the Emergency Department as well as keeping the medical expenses down and expediting patient care.

Urgent care facilities are a convenient source for medical care and treatment for people who are visiting, or have just moved to the area and have not yet established themselves with a primary care doctor, or who are unable to reach their physician. Because of our growing population, there is a lack of primary care physicians in the area. As a result, many insurance companies view the urgent care facilities as a primary care provider. For those people who are rarely ill or do not have health conditions requiring ongoing care (such as diabetes, asthma, etc.), an urgent care facility may be ideal. When it is appropriate, the urgent care staff can refer patients to physicians who will help with their specific needs. You will want to check with your individual insurance carrier for more information concerning your policy provisions and exclusions.

Urgent care facilities offer patients convenient care at inconvenient times. So, if you don’t have a primary care physician the next time you have a medical need, or if your primary care physician is unavailable, consider utilizing an urgent care facility.

-- Kevin J. Reese, MD