The boom for walk-in clinics in America continues to surge. A 2019 Benchmarking report by the Urgent Care Association (UCA) shows that there were approximately 9616 urgent care centers across the US. Urgent care services play a critical role in the continuum of medical care, availing treatment to a wide array of patients who may not afford an emergency room.
It can be overwhelming to pick out the right urgent care clinic in Tucson with the numerous options available. The decision may become tougher, especially during an emergency. As such, it is advisable to begin your search early enough to avoid any rushed decisions.
Here are five factors that you can use to evaluate the emergency clinic in Tucson.
1. Certified Physicians
You may need to find out the medical specialist that will attend to you at the urgent care center. According to UCA, 75% of emergency medical facilities have a family practice specialist on staff, with 47% having an emergency medicine practitioner. You may also find registered Nurse, Physician Assistants, X-ray technologists, or therapists at the facilities. You may need to ensure that the medical staff that will attend to you is qualified and board-certified. Most urgent care centers avail the information of their medical staff through their website.
2. Wait-Times
The allure of urgent care centers over emergency rooms is the short wait times. The UCA indicates that 90% of their members say they have a wait time that is fewer than half an hour, with 57% having less than 15 minutes. This is just a fraction of the national average of 2.4 hours in a standard ER. You can call the urgent care clinic in Tucson and inquire about their average wait time.
3. Appointment Booking
Most urgent medical facilities operate as walk-in establishments, requiring no prior arrangements before providing medical care. Some may provide online appointment booking, allowing you to reserve a spot for a specific period of the day. This allows you to effectively plan your daily activities while still honoring your medical appointment. Check whether the urgent care clinic accepts appointment booking.
4. Services Offered
The services provided at an urgent care facility may differ from those in an ER. A quick online check may reveal the different medical conditions and emergencies that the immediate care clinic can treat. Generally, urgent care revolves around non-life-threatening conditions that may require immediate attention.
5. Medical Costs and Insurance
You may need to find out the average cost of treatment at the urgent care clinic in Tucson. You may not need to walk into an immediate care facility and walk out with an ER-sized bill. Typically, urgent care facilities are up to 50% cheaper than ERs in major hospitals. You may also inquire about the insurance plans that the emergency medical clinic accepts. You may reduce your out-of-pocket costs. The UCA estimates that 58% of their members accept Medicaid. You may reach out to your insurance agent to know the different in-network facilities near you.
Immediate care facilities are a perfect alternative to taking a trip to a hospital ER for non-life-threatening conditions. You may enjoy the convenience of faster, affordable, and equally effective medical services. If you are searching for an urgent care clinic Tucson, reach out to ImmediateCare Arizona.
