Your health is an ongoing factor. At any given time everyone is dealing with minor to severe pain, from a headache that springs up in the morning from a lack of sleep to a flu caught while working in the office. When that pain starts to get too severe for over-the-counter medication? You may find yourself wondering what form of healthcare you should seek out to save you money while still effectively treating your symptoms. Family medicine and occupational health services comes in many different shapes and sizes to address all the ways your health can dip without warning.
Rather than fumbling around in the dark at the last second, become more well-acquainted with the benefits of an urgent care service and an emergency room service.
The United States is a massive country that sees hundreds of millions of people seeking out assistance for minor to severe medical problems every single day. As of now there are approximately 20,000 physicians who practice urgent care medicine. Ongoing statistics have judged this as a rapidly growing profession and a much-needed middle ground between regular doctor visits and emergency room visits. It’s an important specialty that allows patients, as well as doctors, more flexibility in dealing with day-to-day illnesses and injuries.
Your emergency room is designed to deal with life-threatening illnesses, injuries and allergic reactions. These visits have reached a collective 110 million every year and, because of the strain, there is an ongoing effort to provide as many resources as possible to ensure those in need have the fewest wait times possible. Americans rely a great deal on 24-hour access care in their emergency departments. These numbers have increased by 25% over just the past decade alone. By the time 2020 rolls around, the nation is estimated to be short 90,000 physicians.
An urgent care service, on the other hand, can help minor to moderate issues in a timely fashion. The vast majority of urgent care centers back in 2014 operated seven days per week and are open at least four hours per day. Chest pain, difficulty breathing and abdominal pain causes are all brought to the attention of urgent care staff on a daily basis. When you want to save money, discerning between the emergency room and urgent care clinic is essential. According to a private study, as many as 40% of all emergency room episodes could have actually been treated in an urgent care clinic.
There are, however, hybrid models that offer both urgent care practices as well as emergency rooms. It’s important to double-check the locations in your town or city to ensure you’re not left without care when you need it the most. Family medicine and occupational health services are at their best when patients are informed on the basics of their profession, even if it’s just reviewing their opening times, closing times, insurance coverage and sliding scale fees. Depending on where you go, you may even have access to advanced diagnostic and laboratory services.
You can get the check-up and assistance you need to get back on your feet again. Receiving preventative care, such as STD screening or a flu shot, can be done with the aid of family medicine and occupational health services. More immediate issues that are still not life-threatening, such as abdominal pain or an ankle strain, can also be attended to. You can also seek out hybrid models in your area to reduce your travel time and give you peace-of-mind as you go about your work week.
With healthcare models changing as we know it and insurance plans always a stressful point for many, always remember convenient medical treatment is in your hands.