Urgent Care
What is urgent care medicine?
According to studies, urgent care refers to the medical attention given to patients with serious but not life-threatening medical conditions within 24 hours. You should seek urgent care if you require immediate treatment for a major illness or injury but not too severe that you would need emergency help.
Urgent care centers provide outpatient care to diagnose and treat acute or chronic illnesses. They are your next convenient option if your primary care doctor is on vacation or unable to see you due to late hours or appointment issues.
However, urgent care should not be a replacement for your primary care physician. They exist to provide easy access to healthcare and fill the gap between hospital emergency rooms and doctor’s clinics.
What are the services provided at urgent care clinics?
Urgent care clinics offer outpatient and walk-in medical care for serious but not fatal medical problems. They also operate for longer hours, like a hospital emergency room but without the high prices of the latter.
Generally, people visit an urgent care for immediate treatment and services regarding the following conditions:
- Minor cuts, burns, lacerations, bruises, strain, sprain, and small fractures
- Bug and animal bites
- Allergic reactions
- Asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, and strep throat
- Common colds, flu, stomach aches
- Ear infection
- Eye irritation and minor problems
- Urinary tract infection
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration
- Falls and minor accidents
Moreover, urgent care facilities provide basic laboratory tests and radiologic imaging on-site. They also conduct diagnostic tests, screenings, vaccinations, gynecologic exams, well-baby checkups, physicals, and more.
Like ERs, an urgent care center is also staffed with various healthcare professionals that will work together to diagnose your condition and create a treatment plan. This may include licensed doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, medical technologists, radiologists, and reception staff.
How does urgent care differ from emergency care?
The main difference between urgent care and emergency care is the severity of the medical condition that their practitioners attend to.
Emergency rooms in hospitals will prioritize life-threatening conditions and situations first. So if you went in there with a complaint of diarrhea or sore throat, then chances are you’ll have to wait for a really long time before a physician sees you.
So if you sustain minor injuries or illnesses, then you can go to your trusted urgent care center for its convenience and affordability yet high-quality services.
If you are still not sure which one to choose, check out our article on ER or Urgent Care?
Where to find the best Urgent Care in Baytown?
UrgentcareMDs is one of the leading providers of immediate care and assistance to patients of all ages. Our board-certified clinicians offer superior treatment techniques using advanced technologies and state-of-the-art facilities. Some of the various services we provide include:
- Treatment for GI and GU problems
- Treatment for acute illnesses, infections, and injuries
- On-site x-ray
- Drug testing
- Covid testing
- STD testing
- Pre-operative screening
- And more
We also offer primary care in Baytown and Crosby.
Let us partner with you in care! For more information, do not hesitate to get in touch with us!
You can also visit our Baytown urgent care or Crosby urgent care facility to have your face-to-face consultations.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
Services
Dr. Kamran A. Khan, M.D.
Urgent Care Physician
Dr. Khan specializes in Internal Medicine and Urgent Care and has been practicing medicine for over 23 years.