Many people do not have much experience with urgent care facilities. If this is the case, then you may be wondering how they work and whether you would need to go to urgent care for certain matters versus an emergency room or seeing your primary care doctor. Not having any knowledge surrounding urgent care can certainly shape your opinion of them, resulting in deterring you from receiving the care that you need, as well as the quality of care that you deserve.
Urgent care facilities are ideal for individuals who need medical care for a minor medical emergency or even if you need certain medical services such as vaccinations, blood work, and more. You’d be surprised how equipped our DTLA urgent care is, providing quick, efficient, and quality service for patients in need. In this blog, we will discuss some important factors that everyone should know about urgent care centers, should you need to visit one.
Voted Best Urgent Care in DTLA
Call Ahead or Check-in Online if Possible
An important tip to keep in mind when it comes to urgent care clinics is that most of them are walk-in clinics, meaning that there is no need to make an appointment in order to see a healthcare professional. Because no appointment is needed, your wait time may vary depending on how many people are there ahead of you. On some days, it can take a few minutes to be seen by a healthcare professional or it could take an hour or even longer.
However, don’t be discouraged by this, as many urgent cares do take appointments. Therefore, it doesn’t hurt to call ahead of time before your arrival to see if it’s possible to reserve an appointment, which will shorten your waiting time. In addition, you can check the urgent care center’s website to see if they accept appointments. Some urgent cares may not allow appointments, but do have online check-ins. Try visiting their website and filling out your information, if asked, to save you some time before you get there. This can reserve your spot in line so you see the healthcare professional sooner.
At our DTLA urgent care, we allow walk-ins, as well as appointments. You may also call in ahead of time to get an estimate of the waiting time to give you a better idea; however, the waiting time is also subject to change.
Determine the Right Urgent Care For Your Needs
Another helpful tip to know before visiting an urgent care is to choose a center that accepts your insurance plan and is in-network if it applies. This can reduce your out-of-pocket payment substantially. In addition, be sure to find an urgent care that specializes in the type of medical care that you need. For example, some urgent cares solely specialize in pediatric care and if you are an adult, clearly that is not the type of urgent care you need. If the urgent care you choose communicates with your primary care doctor, this is a good sign. Lastly, choose an urgent care that is in your area in the case of another incident when you need to visit them again. Familiarize yourself with their specialties and operating hours as well.
Bring What You Need to Your Visit
Next, it’s important to know that urgent care centers don’t always keep an extensive record of each patient’s medical history, as opposed to your regular doctor’s office. Therefore, it’s best to bring the necessary medical documents to your urgent care visit to potentially expedite treatment. Documentation, such as your health insurance information, prescription medications and supplements you are taking, medical diagnoses, or allergies are all important information that you should make known. In addition, be sure to have your doctor’s name and office information handy. Also, bring a picture ID in order to verify your identity. And if any necessary payments or copays are needed, ensure that you are prepared for that as well.
Figure Out the Best Time to Go
Urgent cares can be unpredictable in terms of wait times. Although you are able to visit urgent care at any time during their operating hours, certain times may be busier than other times. Therefore, if you don’t have an appointment and plan to be seen as a walk-in patient, it’s best to call the DTLA urgent care clinic ahead of time to get an idea of how many people are ahead of you. The fewer people present, the quicker you are able to see a healthcare provider.
Urgent Cares Are Not For Life-Threatening Emergencies
Lastly, keep in mind that urgent care centers are not for life-threatening emergencies, as they are limited to the type of care that they provide. Urgent care clinics are ideal for treatments for colds, strep throat, burns, urinary tract infections, allergic reactions, certain vaccinations, specific types of blood work, and bug bites. Some urgent cares even treat minor lacerations and fractures.
If you or a loved one are suffering from a major medical emergency, it is essential to go straight to Save your nearest emergency room. This is important to know because going straight to an urgent care center, as opposed to an emergency room – in the event that you may need more advanced care – can be detrimental to your health. This is due to the fact that urgent cares are not equipped to handle emergency matters. Some examples of major emergencies include chest pain, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, severe committing, excessive bleeding, or broken bones that break the skin.
Contact Our DTLA Urgent Care
If you are facing a minor medical emergency, contact our DTLA urgent care to determine if we can provide you with the care that you need. With years of experience as one of the top DTLA urgent care facilities, we take great pride in offering excellent services to our patients.
