When you need medical care it is best to visit your primary care physician, but if you are sick or injured after business hours or are unable to get an appointment a walk-in health clinic can provide you with the treatment that you need. Continue reading to learn more about retail clinics and urgent care centers to better understand how each one can help you when you need medical attention:
Retail Clinics
Retail clinics are a relatively new addition to the healthcare system, and they can be found inside drug stores, grocery stores, and big box stores. These types of clinics accept patients on a walk-in basis, and they are typically contracted with a wide variety of health insurance companies. A retail clinic is typically staffed by a nurse practitioner (NP) or physicians assistant (PA); these are medical professionals that have advanced training that allow them to diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses and injuries, and also write prescriptions. In order to keep costs down, most retail clinics do not have a physician on site on a regular basis.
Many retail clinics are small and do not have advanced medical equipment available. You would not want to visit these clinics if you are extremely ill or injured, but they can be a great place to receive medical care when you are suffering from colds, the flu, strep throat, ear infections, and minor cuts or skin infections. A lot of retail clinics can also provide health screenings and administer immunizations and flu shots. Retail clinics are convenient if you end up needing a prescription since they are typically located adjacent to a pharmacy.
Urgent Care Centers
Urgent care centers provide many of the same services as a retail clinic, but urgent care centers are typically equipped with more advanced medical equipment and X-ray machines so they can diagnose and treat more serious injuries, such as broken bones. Many urgent care centers can also suture or stitch moderate wounds, treat minor to moderate burns, and provide breathing treatments for minor complications due to asthma or other breathing disorders. When you visit an urgent care center you may be treated by a nurse practitioner or physicians assistant, but most facilities have a licensed physician on staff during business hours if more advanced treatment is needed. If your illness or injury is more serious than you realize, the staff at an urgent care center will refer you to the emergency room at a local hospital (such as Snow Creek Medical Center) for treatment.
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