Support Your Local Urgent Care
May is national Urgent Care Awareness Month, a celebration and acknowledgment of the fast growing industry and the people who work there. Urgent Cares across the country are the ideal choice for people who can’t afford to go to the ER or hospital, and honestly they are lifesavers for reducing the amount of patients in hospitals and ERs. HealthCARE Express is here to educate you about why urgent care workers in general and all 17 of our HealthCARE Express Urgent Care Clinics deserve praise for their hard work and flexibility especially within the years of the pandemic.
Urgent Care awareness month was created to recognize the growth of the industry as well as an inexpensive solution for people who are needing immediate care but cannot afford to go to the emergency room or the hospital. While urgent care will never replace the need to go to a primary care doctor for ongoing care, they bridge the gap between convenient and affordable medical care options.
What Is Urgent Care?
To start, let’s talk about what Urgent Care actually is. Urgent Care is a walk-in medical facility staffed with medical doctors, nurses, and other helpful medical providers that are able to handle illnesses, injuries, and non-life threatening emergencies that need immediate care. Note that it is separate from a hospital or an emergency room. Though they are not a fully equipped hospital, most Urgent Cares provide medical services such as labs, occupational medicine, immunizations & vaccines, hormone therapy, and even X-Ray/imaging services. With the demand for medical attention increasing, Urgent Cares have been lifesavers, literally, to those in all circumstances.
When to go to an Urgent Care Instead of the ER
Knowing where to go when medical care is needed is crucial in allowing the system to work most efficiently and in the best way. So, when should you go to the hospital vs the ER or Urgent Care? You should go to an Urgent Care vs the ER or hospital when the medical problem is not necessarily an emergency, but needs attention within 24 hours (like the flu).
Situations To Go To An Urgent Care
- Accidents and falls
- Cuts that don’t bleed uncontrollably but might need stitches
- Eye irritation
- Fever or flu
- Moderate back problems
- Minor broken bones and fractures
- Severe sore throat or cough
- Need for an X-ray and/or lab tests
- UTI
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration
- Sprains and strains
- Rashes or skin irritations
- Dislocations
- Asthma problems
- Earwax removal
- Ear infections
- Animal bites
- Blood pressure problems
Situations To Go To An ER
You should go to the hospital or ER if your emergency condition is one that could permanently impair or endanger your life. You should dial 911 if your medical problem appears life threatening.
- A fracture where the bone protrudes through the skin
- Seizures or convulsions
- Deep knife or gunshot wounds
- Fever in a newborn less than 3 months old
- Uncontrollable, heavy bleeding
- Poisoning
- Pregnancy-related problems
- Serious head, neck, or back injuries
- Severe abdominal pain
- Severe burns
- Heart attack symptoms
- Stroke symptoms like vision loss, sudden numbness, weakness, slurred speech, etc.
Ways to Thank Urgent Care Providers
Everyone, regardless of occupation, likes the acknowledgment of their hard work. Health care providers are no exception and are deserving of the utmost respect and appreciation for all that they have endured within the last years of the global pandemic. Aside from being knowledgeable about when you need to go to the ER vs Urgent Care, there are many different ways to show your appreciation to those who often work long hours in Urgent Care.
Examples Of Ways To Thank Your Urgent Care Provider
- Write a letter to an urgent care worker
- Bring a meal to an urgent care worker
- Simply get out of their way
- Don’t go into an Urgent Care for the wrong reasons (see lists above)
- Be kind and patient
- Communicate exactly what your reason for going to an urgent care is
- Don’t lie about your medical history, it will make their job a lot harder
- Tell them thank you
HealthCARE Express Provides Proper Care
Now, specifically speaking about our 17 HealthCARE Express Urgent Cares, we help alleviate overcrowding in hospitals and emergency rooms. Our professionals are trained in how to help those who come in with sprains, broken bones, the flu, a cold, and other common illnesses. Our other services also include imaging and X-rays, providing vaccinations, hormone therapy, occupational medicine, and more. We have multiple locations in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Visit our website to find a location closest to you, and give us a call to learn more about how we can help you and your medical needs while not breaking the bank.
