Medical Care Shouldn’t Cost An Arm And A Leg The Urgent Family Medical Center For Struggling Americans
Medical care shouldn’t be expensive. Unfortunately, it remains one of the biggest sources of stress for Americans today.
Emergency room visits are notoriously expensive. Waiting to see a family doctor isn’t always in the cards, either, when a condition is severe. Instead of struggling between the lesser of two evils, seek out a local urgent care clinic to cure what ails you. The function of a family medical center is to address the more minor problems that slip through the cracks. Not only will you be treated promptly, you’ll enjoy a low bill and quality care in one easy fix.
Should you visit the family doctor, emergency room, or urgent care? Take a look below to learn about the differences in your medical care. A simple switch could mean the difference between a $100 bill and a $1,000 bill.
The family doctor is a prime medical resource for millions of Americans. These professionals build a working relationship with you to ensure your health is of the utmost importance. This can be a doctor who provides general medicine, a nurse practitioner, or a gynecologist. Reaching out to them when you’re in pain, however, is not always a good solution. Thanks to the influx of patients many doctors have, you could end up waiting weeks before you’re seen.
Heading straight to the emergency room can also make things worse, both emotionally and financially. While you’ll no doubt receive quality care, you’ll also be saddled with a large bill. A recent study found more than 70% of emergency room visits involving patients with consumer-sponsored insurance visited for non-emergency reasons. Another study by Milliman revealed at least 45% of emergency room episodes could have been taken to an urgent care setting. The emergency room should be kept for life-threatening conditions, such as stab wounds or allergic reactions.
Your 24 hour urgent care clinic is designed as the in-between for your family doctor and emergency room. This convenient location is able to treat minor and moderate injuries and illnesses — according to estimates by the Urgent Care Association Of America’s 2016 Benchmarking Report, there are over 7,300 clinics around the country. This means plenty of flexibility to address problems as they come. There are also variants in the model, including after hours pediatrics and 24 hour emergency care. No matter what, you have options.
Are you struggling with persistent headaches that won’t abate? What about abdominal pain causes you can’t quite pin down? Your family medical center is ready to help you out and in good time. According to the aforementioned Urgent Care Association 2016 Benchmarking Report, over 90% of clinics boast wait times of 30 minutes or less. More than one-quarter of American patients report visiting an urgent care center within the past two years, as well.
There are times to visit your family doctor. There may come a time where you need to see the emergency room as soon as possible. When it comes to the moderate aches and pains of day-to-day life, your 24 hour walk in clinic is the best bet. Just 3% of patients who come to an urgent care center need to be diverted to emergency departments. This means you’ll wait a short time, receive quality care, and be sent home with a low bill.
It’s not too good to be true. Enjoy affordable medical care by checking out your local urgent family medical center today.
