When you need certain services, it’s easy to know where you should go. Need a haircut? Go to the salon or barbershop. Need a new car? Check online or at your local dealership. Need groceries? Stop in at the grocery store on the way home.
But what if you’re suddenly very sick or sustain an injury or spike a fever? Do you know where to go? Your inclination may be to rush to the emergency room. Unfortunately, treatment at the emergency room is often much costlier than at an urgent care center, and often not necessary for you to get great care.
New development for urgent care centers is on the rise as many of today’s savvy consumers want on-demand healthcare at the point of need. At Grassroots Healthcare, Dr. Melita Tate has years of experience helping men, women, and children in Tulsa, Oklahoma, quickly and proficiently meet their urgent health needs. Here she helps you discern when you should go to the emergency room and when you should seek urgent care.
Urgent care is the right choice for serious medical needs that aren’t life-threatening, such as:
Severe earaches and ear infections are another common reason to see a provider at an urgent care clinic.
If your life is at risk due to any of the following concerns, go directly to the emergency room:
These are only examples of common emergency issues. If you have a serious medical need that isn’t on the list above, seek care immediately.
Since an emergency room will treat medical issues that aren’t life-threatening, it may seem like the easy thing to do is just head to the closest hospital. However, there are a few good reasons to choose urgent care instead:
On average, most urgent care patients are seen by a doctor within one hour of arrival at the clinic. This is in sharp contrast to hospitals with wait times that can sometimes be several hours.
In general, a trip to urgent care is far more affordable than care at the emergency room. Each situation is unique, and the type of insurance you have is also an important factor.
With nearly 9,000 urgent care centers across the nation, it’s easy to find a convenient location close to you.
For comprehensive care for all your urgent medical needs, trust the skilled and caring team at Grassroots Healthcare. Call to book an appointment or use the online booking feature.
