7 Secrets You Didn’t Know About Urgent Care

By Tork Media

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7 Secrets You Didn’t Know About Urgent Care

Many who have never been to urgent care often find it much different than expected. It is one of those things that no one really thinks about until they need it. And when they need it, there is not enough time to do lots of research on it. So, it is best to do this research beforehand.

Read on to discover seven secrets you didn’t know about urgent care to make your next visit quick and easy.

1. Find the Best Urgent Care for You

There are many reasons to choose your urgent care facility carefully. Depending on where you live, some facilities may be better than others. For example, urgent care Philadelphia has many great facilities. However, you still want to look at the reviews and go to one that is well credited.

If you are insured, be sure to go to an urgent care facility in Philadelphia under your network. You should be able to easily find this from your insurance website.

Many facilities specialize in certain areas of care, like pediatrics, orthopedics, or women’s health. Familiarize yourself with local urgent care facilities and learn what they specialize in before you decide which one to go to. It’s best to do this long before the need arises so you can be ready at a moment’s notice.

2. Check-In Before You Go

As you prepare to leave for urgent care Philadelphia, you should determine what their check-in policy is. Many facilities are walk-in centers, so you do not need an appointment before going. Others may be appointment-based, so you might need to call and make one to get in. However your urgent care facility does it, you likely can check in before arrival. This can speed up the process and allow you to get the care you need as soon as possible.

Most people do not know that you can often check in remotely online, by phone, or even on an app. So do your research so you can have the smoothest experience possible.

3. There are Good and Bad Times to Go

Did you know there are good and bad times to go to urgent care? Like any other business, urgent care has busy times and slow times. Obviously, you should go as soon as possible if an emergency arises. However, if you can wait, it is best to wait until a slower time of day so you can get in and out and carry on with the rest of your day.

Nights, weekends, and holidays are often the busiest times for urgent care. This is because local doctors’ offices are typically closed, and more people are off of work and able to spare the time. So, if you want to spend little time in urgent care, it is best to go during the day on a weekday.

4. Urgent Care is NOT for Life-Threatening Emergencies

Many people may not know that urgent care is not for life-threatening emergencies. Although urgent is in the name, if you have a life-threatening emergency, sickness, or allergic reaction, you need to go to the emergency room for immediate help. Urgent care is for urgent needs that are not life-threatening.

5. Urgent Care Can Treat Many Issues

There are many ailments and injuries that urgent care can mend. These include, but are not limited to, the flu, ear infection, pink eye, fevers, sore throat, strep throat, sprains, allergic reactions, minor fractures, cuts, frostbite, migraines, nausea, and burns.

If you are not sure what your issue is, you can go to urgent care for professional testing and advice. They will be able to assess your ailment or injury and tell you the best step for you to take toward healing.

6. Don’t Forget to Bring the Essentials

There are four things you should bring with you to every urgent care Philadelphia visit. These will help get you the proper care you need and expedite the process so you don’t run into any unnecessary hiccups.

First, bring your insurance information. If you don’t want to pay your bill out-of-pocket, this is something you do not want to leave at home. It’s good practice to have your insurance card on your person at all times.

Next, bring a copy of recent medical records, critical medical history, and the names of any medications you are currently taking. This will give the doctors and nurses everything they need to take care of you.

Lastly, you need to bring your ID. Any urgent care facility will want to confirm your identification before seeing you. This is just standard operation. So, don’t rush out of the house and forget it!

7. You Won’t Always See a Doctor

Last on the list of urgent care secrets. Don’t expect to always see a doctor. While urgent care facilities always have doctors on staff, they may be busy treating other patients. Or, your injury or ailment may be something their nurse practitioners or assistants can easily handle on their own. This is typical for any urgent care facility in Philadelphia or elsewhere.

The Takeaway

There is surprisingly a lot to know about visiting urgent care Philadelphia. You can’t just show up and expect immediate treatment. You need to take the time to find a facility that fits your needs, check in online if possible, bring all of the essentials, and know what to expect when you get there. Doing all this work beforehand will allow for a stress-free and efficient urgent care experience.