Urgent care centers are performing yeoman service for the public by treating non-life threatening illnesses in quick time.
No appointment is needed and practically no waiting time.
But in these corona virus pandemic times, the settings and scenario have changed.
For example, a doctor medical clinic near Arlington strictly abides by CDC protocols to safeguard patients and health professionals from getting infected by corona virus.
Some of the steps that are in place include:
- Visitor management – screening patients who may have symptoms of Covid-19 and referring them to an appropriate hospital if needed
- Continuing to provide care for non-Corona virus patients and identifying patients that need higher acuity care
- Remotely monitoring clinical signs of medical conditions like blood pressure and blood glucose
- Advising patients who think they may have Covid-19 to use online self assessment tools instead of visiting the urgent care clinic
A doctor at Arlington medical clinic says, “We are very particular about use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Defense against all forms of transmission is essential to keep our staff healthy especially during high risk encounters.
“We also encourage patients to wait in their car so as to reduce people in the clinic. In the waiting rooms, we have spaced chairs at 6 feet distance”.
In most urgent care clinics, if the physician decides the patient has mild illness, appropriate medication is given with instructions on self care and monitoring of symptoms.
Urgent care has not sidelined care for diseases other than corona virus.
These healthcare facilities are continuing to be in the frontline to treat patients for all types of minor illnesses.
It is no wonder urgent care is a fast growing segment in the American health care system.
Convenience of course is one aspect of its popularity.
It is open after hours and on week days. Another positive feature is these facilities are offering much more than just physician check up.
Under one roof you have x-ray facility and provisions for blood tests.
The services offered include STD panel, hormone panel, liver panel, stool parasites panel, and even cancer panel.
STD testing is rapid and anonymous.
It is no surprise that the urgent care was an $18 billion industry in 2018 with over 7600 centers in the United States. The figure today in all probability is higher.
Urgent medical conditions do not pop up with a warning.
Accidents and falls are common. So is the case with sprains and strains.
Sore throats, cough, fever, and urinary tract infections are frequent occurrences.
All these cannot be neglected, nor can you wait if such health issues arise at odd hours.
Yes, serious injuries, heart attacks, strokes, or severe burns need immediate attention from specialists.
In such situations, you must dial 911 for immediate help or rush to a hospital.
If you have a medical problem but not an emergency, an urgent care center is the best bet to get quick and affordable care.
