Have you been in a hospital emergency room lately? How long did you need to wait before being seen by a physician? The average time if takes to be seen at an emergency room has actually increased over the years, and you may have experienced this first-hand.
During 2003 and 2009, for example, the average waiting time to be seen by an emergency room physician rose from 46.5 minutes to 58.1 minutes. Since then, it’s quite probable that emergency room waiting time has increased even further.
While it will depend on the patients that are already waiting as well as the severity of their and your medical issues, the average waiting time at an emergency walk in clinic is 15 minutes or less. Furthermore, the average cost of being treated at an emergency walk in clinic is also considerably less than the average visit to a hospital emergency room. According to a Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the average visit to a traditional emergency room costs $1,318.00 with a mean cost of $615.00.
A walk in health clinic can treat a variety of issues such as minor illnesses and injuries. These low cost health clinics can also provide preventative treatments, which includes flu shots and other types of vaccinations. STD testing for men and women is also available at a walk in health clinic. When the tests are positive, STD treatment is also available.
Given that depression rates are high within the elderly population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s important to note that elderly patients can be evaluated and treated for this condition at a medical walk in clinic. Furthermore, since around one in 20 adults over 65 often suffer with some form of memory loss, an emergency walk in clinic can assist them. This is also true for individuals that are experiencing some type of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
When a situation is life-threatening, it is important to go to the hospital emergency room. However, when this isn’t the case, it makes sense to visit a walk in health clinic. In addition to less waiting time and lower costs, you don’t have to schedule an appointment ahead of time. Walk in health clinics are a convenient alternative to the traditional hospital emergency room.