There is nothing more important in life than one’s own personal health and well being. What is essential to remember at all times is that these things can be compromised unexpectedly at any given time and place. In most cases, people and their families will have a primary care physician that they go to for all of their medical care needs. However, the issue that most people experience with their primary care physician at one point or another is that they are only available during regular business hours. Moreover, it can often take quite a while to schedule an appointment with primary doctors. This is very inconvenient and unhelpful when conditions and illnesses arise suddenly. When such instances occur, individuals can seek treatment at after hours urgent care facilities.
In the United States, an estimated 15 percent of urgent care facilities are found in urban areas. One can sometimes find urgent care centers in medical plazas or retail centers, but many urgent care centers are freestanding buildings. There are currently an estimated 9,000 urgent care facilities in the United States that are looking to either open another branch or expand, according to the Urgent Care Association of America.
The high cost of emergency room care is why many people opt to go to urgent care centers when possible. Typically, an urgent care visit is between 40 and 50 percent less expensive than an emergency room visit. Common pediatric emergency room services, such as treating ear infections and strep throat, can also be provided by urgent care centers. With walk in appointments encouraged and 24 hour services often found, urgent care facilities can sometimes serve as pediatric emergency rooms. Great references here.