Should I Visit The Hospital Closest To Me? The Difference Between The ER And An Urgent Care Center

You’re going about the motions of your usual workweek. You make sure to drink plenty of water, bundle up out in the cold and eat a little more healthy to keep your immune system going strong. What happens when you come down with an illness anyway?

Your first order of business might be to type in ‘closest hospital to me’. This is where it pays to be more familiar with the nuance of the American healthcare system. While you might be tempted to drop by the emergency room when the pain flares a little too high, there’s a much more affordable option that can still deliver you the care you need. The family urgent care center is a perfect location to bring up issues related to minor injuries or moderate illnesses, particularly if you’re on a budget or are switching insurance plans.

Even if you and your children are insured? There’s nothing like saving a little money to keep the stress at bay.

Why Shouldn’t I Go To The Closest Hospital To Me?

The issue with typing up ‘closest hospital to me’ and choosing the first option that lands your way is the future medical bill. The emergency room may be quick, but it’s also notoriously expensive and can put you in a bad spot later. A private study conducted by Milliman found anywhere between 45% and 65% of all emergency room visits could have actually been treated in an urgent care setting. That can mean the difference between a bill under $150 and a bill hitting a thousand.

Can I Have A Fracture Or Sprain Treated?

Whether your son has sprained their wrist or twisted their ankle, a pediatric urgent care center is ready and waiting to help. Four out of five urgent care centers in America provide on-the-spot fracture care. In fact, as many as 25,000 Americans will suffer from an ankle sprain every day. The urgent care center is a low-cost and convenient model when you can’t wait to see your regular doctor and want to still save money from the emergency room. This even extends to less severe issues like nausea, migraines and dizziness.

What About Issues Like Nausea And Migraines?

Are you feeling a little under the weather…but aren’t quite sure why? It can help to have a professional eye on your side. Over three million patients will visit urgent care centers every week, thanks to data provided by the Urgent Care Association Of America, and 60% of all these centers have a wait time of 15 minutes or less. That means you can be in and out at a proper time with some answers on your condition. Whether this means a referral to another doctor or some pain medication, you’ll be finally moving in the right direction.

Am I Able To Receive Preventative Care?

It’s not just reacting to a painful burn or a week-long bout with nausea. It’s also typing in ‘closet hospital to me’ and looking for an urgent care center to help you stay healthy. With the cold season just about on your doorstep it’s prudent to get your annual flu shot. The flu virus is always mutating, meaning the general population needs to stay vaccinated on a routine basis to keep vulnerable people, such as children and the elderly, safe. You can also receive a physical or update other vaccinations to keep your health as sound as possible.

What’s The Difference Between Urgent And Emergency Care?

Healthcare takes more than one form. It’s up to you to take advantage of all the resources at your disposal. The biggest difference between the urgent care and emergency room is convenience. While both will give you the attention you need, it’s the former that will send you off in a more timely fashion and with a much smaller bill. Americans will come down with a collective one billion colds every year, with as much as 20% of the population coming down with the flu.

Sick season waits for no one. Take the initiative, type up ‘closest hospital to me’ and visit a family urgent care center.