what are urgent care clinics?

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Feb 24, 2009

Urgent care clinics are places where you can get medical care for simple health problems like colds, flu, UTIs, physicals, without an appointment. They free up ERs for actual emergencies and alleviate wait times for appointments at regular doctor's offices.

Junebugfairy · Feb 24, 2009

one thing to add.. they require payment up front, or payment that same day. unlike er's, urgent care centers often see patients with insurance coverage.

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Feb 24, 2009

yeah same as above but don't forget you don't see a doctor you see a pa or np and after i took my daughter there for pink eye as we couldn't get her into the doctor the bill was freaking 500.00. and i don't have health insurance but she does. so after they paid it was a balance of 175.00. If i had waited to get her into the doctor it would have only cost 50.00. how is that for high healthcare cost

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Feb 24, 2009

Urgent care clinics are often staffed with midlevel providers and physicians- just like ER's.

j_audrey · Feb 25, 2009

yeah same as above but don't forget you don't see a doctor you see a pa or np and after i took my daughter there for pink eye as we couldn't get her into the doctor the bill was freaking 500.00. and i don't have health insurance but she does. so after they paid it was a balance of 175.00. If i had waited to get her into the doctor it would have only cost 50.00. how is that for high healthcare cost

Unfortunately, you pay for after hours convienence. The bill probably would have been the same if you took her to your local ER. (working in billing currently) They function (as mentioned before) as an after hours clinic for those who can't get into their regular practice for the sore throat they have had for a week.

I won't complain about services Urgent Care provide here in NE... they saved my life when I was 18 and an undiagnosed Type II diabetic who thought she had the flu. I remember the RN and the Dr. there fondly, as they kept me calm when I had them scared witless. :redbeathe

shantipaudel · Feb 25, 2009

ER / urgent care sound like same.ER is the place where we can treat major medical disease,major injuries ful payment on that same day with appointments disease related doctors.next urgent care we can treat simple health related condition they see patient with insurance coverage and can treat without appointment......