Minute Clinic Alternative in Swampscott

Think Minute Clinics are Fast and Affordable Healthcare options? Try Urgent Care instead of Minute Clinics

Several pharmacies and superstores across the country now offer walk-in “minute clinics". Perhaps the most popular one that everyone knows is CVS’s Minute Clinic. Between Emergency Rooms, Minute Clinics, Primary Care Centers, and Urgent Care Centers, it is easy to confuse the difference between these various medical care destinations. At AFC Urgent Care Swampscott, we strive to offer the most comprehensive and highest quality medical services since day one. Better than most minute clinics in our area!

What is the Difference Between a “Minute Clinic" and an Urgent Care Center?

Minute clinics emphasize their ability to accommodate patients on a walk-in basis. However, they are generally staffed with only one provider (often a nurse practitioner), who lacks any support staff, and who can only provide a minor list of medical services. There is no onsite lab or x-ray.

Meanwhile, here at AFC Urgent Care Swampscott, we have board-certified physicians on staff and offer a wide number of services that many believe can only be provided by an emergency room in a hospital. In addition, we too can take you on a walk-in basis without prior appointments so you can choose to see a doctor at a time that is easy for you. Here is a summarized list of differences between a minute clinic and our urgent care center.

Minute Clinic

• Few Lab Testing Services (generally limited to basic blood glucose and pressure checks)
• Offer Only Minor Medical Services (Flu Shots, Strep Tests, etc.)
• Primarily Do NOT Have On-Site Lab (need to outsource lab samples for diagnostics and testing)
• Cannot conduct any X-Rays or perform wound and laceration repairs
• Limited to 2-3 patients per hour
• Closed during lunch hour and closed in the evenings

Our Urgent Care Center

• Staffed By Board-Certified Physicians (as well as highly experienced medical providers)
• Can do wound and laceration repair, test for fractures and do splinting onsite
• On-Site Lab, Equipped With X-Rays and the Apparatus Necessary for Drug Testing, Strep Throat Testing, Urinalysis, Flu-shots, Travel Immunizations etc.
• Offer Occupational Health Services to Self Employed (e.g DOT Physicals) and Employers (Pre-Employment Physicals, Drug Testing, etc.)
• Provide a Comprehensive Number of Patient Services on a Walk-In Basis
• Accepts Most Insurances available to residents of Massachusetts and Offer Affordable Self-Pay Options

So next time you’re considering a visit to your local minute clinic, consider AFC Urgent Care Swampscott for your healthcare needs. We’re located at 450 Paradise Road in Swampscott MA (steps away from Walgreens and CVS in the heart of Vinnin Square) and are just a short drive away from Clifton, Marblehead, Lynn, Salem, and Peabody.

Other Services

• Urgent Care
• Walk-In Clinic
• Primary Care
• Flu Shots
• DOT Physical Exam
• Insurance Accepted
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Contact Us