It is understandable that most patients confuse emergency rooms and urgent care clinics. Both are generally synonymous with medical care immediately. Although a growing number of walking clinics offer similar services that hospitals can provide, each of these facilities is intended for different health problems.
Of course, there are many differences between emergency rooms and hospital access clinics, such as the hospital being open 24 hours a day, while health care clinics generally work evenings and Weekends – Typical times when primary care physicians are not available. .
Another aspect that separates both is the cost. Franz Ritucci, MD, President of the American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine, recently told a publication of a health of a woman in middle-aged Florida who had chest pain and cardiac palpitations. She had visited an urgent care clinic that costs her at most than $ 400 for review and testing. However, the same experience would have cost it more than $ 2,000 by visiting an emergency room.
“She would get a total blood work of the panel, probably cardiac enzymes, EKGs in series,” said Dr. Ritucci. “She would be on a heart instructor, probably has a cardiology consultation, and perhaps an admission to the hospital under 24 years old. Hours. The standard of care could be excellent, but costs can quickly get out of the hand . “
A general rule for differentiating the two: serious medical emergencies should be left for emergency rooms, while less extreme injuries could be examined by a health professional in an urgent care clinic. By making the right choice, it can save you time, money and maybe even your life.
When should you visit an emergency room compared to an urgent health clinic? Here are some guidelines for distinguishing a trip to an emergency room or a visit to an urgent clinic nearby in your neighborhood. (If in doubt, call a walk in the care clinic in advance before your visit.)
Emergency room
– Intense bleeding
– Difficulty breathing
– broken bone
– Head injury
– Loss of consciousness
Urgent care clinic
– Fever or flu
– Spring or strains
– Minor irritations, burns or injury
– Lacerations (deep cuts or wounds)
– Respiratory infections
With inevitable and inevitable cuts in federal and state expenditures, urgent care centers appear throughout the country. It is estimated that nearly 10,000 immediate clinics have been established and annual growth is between eight and 10%. These clinics are exploited primarily by non-profit systems, but the private sector is also beginning to invest in urgent care clinics.
According to Rand Health, Big-box retailers, such as Walmart and Target, open such clinics everywhere. With a strong pattern for profit for these private companies, many people are expected to open up in the future, including an influx of 30 million inhabitants or so patients draining the health system – he There are currently about 1,200 clinics from these fully operational clinics in the United States.