Benefits of Walk-In Urgent Care

Imagine if getting quality healthcare was convenient, quick, and cost-effective. If you didn’t need an appointment, so you could work around your own schedule – not the doctor’s. If you could avoid a crowded emergency room when life doesn’t go according to plan.

Sound too good to be true? Patients who take advantage of walk-in urgent care enjoy these benefits and more.

Urgent care is called “urgent” for a reason, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the emergency room or days waiting for an appointment. The next time you need prompt treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, choose walk-in urgent care instead.

Benefit #1: No Appointment Necessary

Walk-in urgent care clinics help fill a vital gap when you are sick or injured but your primary care doctor is unavailable or you cannot wait for an appointment – yet you don’t quite need an emergency room.

You can visit a walk-in urgent care clinic at any time during normal operating hours without an appointment required. Some walk-in urgent care clinics do offer the ability to make a same-day appointment by phone or online. Others offer memberships that give patients priority access, with little or no wait time to see a health professional.

Life-threatening injuries or emergencies should always be addressed at the emergency room. But for injuries and illnesses that require immediate care – yet aren’t serious enough for an ER visit – walk-in urgent care clinics are an excellent option. Just head directly to the clinic, no appointment necessary.

Benefit #2: Costs Less Than an ER Visit

On average, emergency room visits cost anywhere from $2,400 to $2,600 without insurance. That’s a huge expense, especially for minor illnesses and injuries that could easily be treated at a walk-in urgent care clinic instead.

An urgent care visit is far more cost-effective than a trip to the emergency room. The average cost for treating a non-emergency condition at a walk-in urgent care clinic is $185 – probably less if you have insurance.

If you’re not experiencing a true emergency but also cannot wait to see your regular healthcare provider, consider visiting a walk-in urgent care clinic. Urgent care clinics are typically open after hours and on weekends and can save you thousands of dollars in treatment costs.

Benefit #3: Shorter Wait Times Than the ER

The average ER wait time in America is 145 minutes (nearly 2.5 hours), although you may have to wait even longer in some states. Urgent care clinics typically have much shorter wait times than emergency rooms – in fact, you could be seen by a doctor in a matter of minutes.

Because you don’t need an appointment, your wait time at a walk-in urgent care clinic may vary. Certain times are often busier than others, such as nights and weekends. If you wish, you can call the clinic to ask about the estimated wait time before leaving home. Some clinics also provide current wait times online to help you plan accordingly.

Delaying treatment can make many illnesses and injuries worse. Even with non-life-threatening medical issues, time is often of the essence – so visit a walk-in urgent care clinic for prompt treatment.

Benefit #4: Reduces Burden on Local Hospitals

There’s a reason why emergency rooms have such long wait times – most ERs are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of patients. Hospitals are required to treat all ER patients regardless of their ability to pay, so many uninsured patients rely on them for primary care services rather than true emergencies.

Most emergencies also happen after traditional work hours, at night, and on weekends when the hospital may not have enough ER staff on hand. The result: overcrowded waiting rooms and extreme delays.

Urgent care clinics are an essential part of our nation’s healthcare system, providing efficient care for non-life-threatening conditions and helping to reduce the burden on busy hospital emergency rooms.

Benefit #5: Specialized Care on a Walk-In Basis

Even though you can walk in without an appointment, you can still expect a high level of specialized care at an urgent care clinic. Many are staffed by board-certified physicians and certified nurse practitioners with years of clinical experience.

Urgent care clinics provide a variety of walk-in services, including treatment for:

• Sprains and strains
• Minor cuts and burns
• Ear infections
• Sinus infections
• Strep throat
• Flu
• Bronchitis
• Allergies
• Abdominal or back pain
• Vomiting
• Urinary tract infections
• Skin conditions

A walk-in urgent care clinic can also take digital X-rays and perform minor surgical procedures (such as stitches), along with annual physicals, vaccines and immunizations, and other health needs.

Visit TrustCare Today for Walk-In Treatment

At TrustCare, our goal is to provide you with quality care and get you in and out as quickly as possible. TrustCare walk-in urgent care clinics are open seven days a week, 361 days a year to help you Feel Better Faster® – with no appointment necessary.

TrustCare also offers primary care, telehealth, pediatric primary care (TrustCare Kids), and more. To get started, find a TrustCare near you today.