According to stats from the CDC, nearly 83% of Americans have been in touch with a medical professional in the last year. While the CDC also says that more than half (55%) of all appointments are made with primary care physicians, an increasing number of Americans are looking for alternatives to the standard doctor’s office. Some of the best options are walk in clinics that provide high levels of care without the need to make an appointment. The fact that they are more convenient than both primary care physicians and the ER is helping them become more and more popular.
Perhaps the main reason why many individuals prefer walk in clinics is the fact that, although they run on a first come, first serve basis, there are generally shorter wait times. It can be quite frustrating to make an appointment with your doctor, show up on time, and still have to sit in the waiting room for half an hour before you get seen. Generally, walkin medical clinics allow you get the care you need without having to call ahead or wait too long, making it easier to stick to your own schedule.
On top of that, walk in clinics offer after hour care that allow you get diagnoses and treatments at any time. Generally speaking, injuries and illnesses don’t go out of there way to show up only during business hours, so getting care late at night or super early in the morning is often a must. While the ER can certainly help, urgent care centers are often a less stressful and more efficient option, making them the perfect alternative when you need medical assistance at inconvenient hours.
Though walk in clinics are a bit limited in the type of services that they offer, they generally are able to treat any acute problems. A cough is the most common reason why Americans head to the doctor, says the CDC, and urgent care facilities have physicians on hand who can diagnose and treat them. Plus, many are expanding services to offer x-rays, prescribe antibiotics, and even conduct blood work. As a result, they may provide more services than you realize.
Though you’ll want to keep a strong relationship with your family doctor to make sure that you have the right plan of action for serious issues, heading to urgent care centers is often the best way to treat problems when they arise. They make it easy to get the care you need without too much of a hassle. Research more here.