Going to the emergency room may not be in your favor when you feel sick, sustain an injury, or need medical testing for an upcoming job. Alternatively, urgent care facilities offer numerous medical services and treatments that are quick and affordable. So, here’s our first-time urgent care center visitor’s guide to help you understand what to expect.
What Is an Urgent Care Center?
Urgent care facilities take care of minor medical injuries and issues or for medical services like vaccinations and lab testing. They are widely accessible medical facilities that offer convenience, and some refer to them as immediate care centers.
Urgent care facilities create an alternative means for those who need medical care outside doctor’s business hours or those who don’t have primary care doctors. They also take care of patients who don’t have life-threatening health issues.
Know What To Bring
Before visiting an urgent care center, one tip for first-time visitors is to bring the necessary documentation and medical records for your appointment. Bringing medical documentation will substantially streamline your appointment and help you obtain the best care possible.
Your medical documentation includes your most recent health insurance information, prescription medications, vaccination history, primary care physician name and office information, and a picture ID. If you plan on bringing a child patient, have a parent authorization form prepared.
When To Visit Urgent Care
Urgent care clinics strive to make their hours as accessible as possible, but some limitations exist. Some facilities operate 24/7, while others have more limited operation hours, so knowing the best times and days to go is essential. Furthermore, certain nights, holidays, and weekend hours can increase wait times, so knowing which times work best for your schedule is crucial.
Furthermore, only visit urgent care clinics when it’s a non-life-threatening medical issue. For example, symptoms such as broken bones, sprains, flu, colds, small lacerations, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mild asthma attacks, UTIs, and strep throat qualify for urgent care.
Finding the right urgent care center can help when you’re in a pickle. At AFC Urgent Care, we take various patient cases and help with injuries, illnesses, vaccinations, and more. Our urgent care walk-in clinics in Brier Creek have operating hours seven days a week to help you receive the proper care you deserve. Our trained medical staff will help you get results from lab testing to sports physicals. Contact us today for more information about our urgent care clinics and medical services.
