It is important to take care of your health. While the healthcare system in the United States still needs a lot of work, there are elements of progress that are helping more and more people get the care that they need. It is a good idea to have a primary physician that you get to know and who gets to know you, your family, and each of your health needs. However if you do not have a primary physician, or you are in need of urgent medical care when your doctor is not available, urgent care express services are a good option to have.
Know your local urgent care centers
Whether you have a primary doctor you are happy with or not, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the urgent care express service centers in your area, so that you are prepared for any unexpected event. Urgent care services have evolved over the last several years to include care for a great deal of ailments and injuries. In fact in some cases, urgent care centers can even stand in for both emergency room centers and primary physicians, depending on the situation.
About 80% of urgent care centers have the capacity to take care of those who have suffered fractures, typically an injury that would find one ending up in an emergency room. And there are plenty of ailments that do not wait for regular doctor’s office hours to strike. Most urgent care centers are open later than many doctors’ offices during the week, and there are many that also operate during the weekend.
The efficiency of urgent care express centers
The Urgent Care Association of America conducted a survey that showed about 57% of patients typically wait for no more than 15 minutes to see a physician, and a good portion of all visits, at 80%, are one hour in duration or less. The majority of urgent care centers, at 65%, have a physician on hand at all times. This availability allows not only for quick access to care for patients, but also the capability of the center to see many patients, providing as much care for the community as possible.
Access to quality healthcare is something that should be a basic right for everyone. We still have a long way to go as a species before this important goal is realized, but as long as we are moving in the right direction, there is hope for a better future for everyone.