North Austin Urgent Care Sick Visits Near Me

If I’m sick, should I go to the ER or Urgent Care? AFC offers a wide range of services to help you feel better faster. We’re open daily!

*Please note if you are experiencing a life-threatening condition such as a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately. 

Emergency Room, AFC Urgent Care or Primary Care Provider? 

When you need medical treatment, there are lots of options, but which one is better? The simple answer is – it depends on the severity of your condition.  

• Primary Care Providers (PCP): Your PCP is responsible for your medical record and overall health and well-being. This includes things like annual physical exams, routine vaccinations, management of chronic conditions, prescription refills, women’s health care, and men’s health care. Primary care is important for building a long-term relationship with a medical professional who knows your medical history and can provide you with preventive care.
• Urgent Care Clinics: Offer most of the same basic services PCPs and ERs do. Are great alternatives when your PCP is booked, and your medical condition is not life-threatening, but still should be seen right away.
• Emergency Rooms (Emergency Departments): Are designed to treat serious or life-threatening injuries and ailments.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 5 Americans will visit the ER at least once annually. As many as 70% of these visits could have been treated by an urgent care center or a PCP. U.S. World and News Report found that about 75% of children’s ER visits occur at night or on weekends, when their PCP is unavailable. 

With ER costs being on average four times higher than regular doctor visits and usually having dramatically longer wait times, the American public is looking for a better solution for low-risk medical situations. Urgent Care clinics, like AFC North Austin, offer a convenient, cost-effective and safe alternative.  

What is Urgent Care? 

Urgent care is a walk-in clinic that can treat a wide variety of common illnesses and injuries for a fraction of the time and cost of an ER visit. We bridge the gap between your PCP and the ER. However, that does not mean urgent care should be used as a replacement for your PCP. Primary Care Providers play a vital role in maintaining your long-term health. Urgent Care is here to help when accidents suddenly arise.  

AFC Urgent Care is a great option if you have a cold, get a cut or scrape or think you may have the flu. Situations like these do not endanger your life, but illnesses like the flu have the capability of becoming dangerous if not treated promptly. Urgent Care is typically less expensive than the ER. The average cost of an ER visit is about $1,500, while the average cost of an urgent care visit is about $150. The ER also has longer wait times. The average wait time in the ER is about 4 hours, while the average wait time in urgent care is about 30 minutes. Urgent Care centers, like ours are also ideal for after-hour accidents or when your PCP is unavailable. 

What is Not Treated at Urgent Care?

Urgent cares are a great option for common medical conditions, but they are not equipped to handle serious or life-threatening emergencies. If you have a serious injury or illness that requires immediate attention, you should go to a hospital emergency department.

Here are some examples of conditions that cannot be treated at urgent care:

• Severe or life-endangering conditions: Heart attacks, severe bleeding, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and strokes.
• Severe mental health crises: Patients experiencing suicidal thoughts, severe psychiatric disturbances or uncontrollable behavior should go to a psychiatric hospital or emergency room. 
• Chest pain: Should always be taken seriously, as it could be a sign of a heart attack or other cardiac issue, and thus requires immediate medical evaluation at a hospital emergency department.
• Major surgeries or procedures.
• Pregnant women in labor.
• Severe burns.

Urgent care centers are not able to provide the same level of care as a hospital emergency room. They do not have the same equipment or staff, and they may not be able to provide the same level of urgency. If you have a serious injury or illness, it is important to get the care you need as soon as possible.

The AFC Advantage 

At AFC North Austin you can expect compassionate and affordable care for low-risk medical issues. Our team strives to get patients in and out within an hour. No need to schedule days in advance, just walk right in and our team members will gladly assist you. We’re open every day of the week! Our state-of-the-art facility and board-certified medical professionals will ensure you get the care you deserve.  

Common services we offer include, but are not limited to: 

• Sports/school physicals 
• In-house lab testing 
• Orthopedics 
• UTI testing and treatment 
• Digital X-rays 
• Occupational health services 

We also accept most insurance plans and offer affordable self-pay options. Don’t wait it out; when you need care you can trust, choose AFC.