3 Reasons To Visit An Urgent Care Clinic When Your Primary Doctor Is Booked Solid
Primary care physicians provide a wide range of healthcare services, including screening for serious illnesses, managing chronic health conditions and diagnosing illnesses such as sinus infections, strep throat, and dermatitis. Building a relationship with a primary care physician is important, especially if you have a chronic condition that requires careful monitoring. Unfortunately, in some areas, the demand for primary care exceeds the number of providers available, resulting in long waits for appointments. The good news is that your local walk-in clinic can provide many of the same services as a primary care physician, all without the long wait. If your primary care physician is booked, visit your local urgent care if you need any of these services.
1. Vaccinations
Some vaccinations require multiple doses given at specific intervals. For example, a child's first hepatitis B vaccine is administered at birth, the second dose is administered when the child is one to two months old, and the final dose is administered between the ages of 6 and 18 months. Deviations from the recommended vaccine schedule increase a child's risk for developing a serious illness, as the purpose of administering childhood vaccines is to help kids build immunity to infectious organisms before they are exposed to those organisms. If your primary care doctor is booked solid, check with your local walk-in clinic to see if vaccines are available. Going to urgent care can help you avoid unwanted vaccination delays.
2. Time-Sensitive Physicals
You can typically schedule an annual wellness exam whenever it is convenient for you, but some physicals are time-sensitive and must be performed quickly. For example, if your child needs to get a sports physical, you may not be able to get an appointment with your primary care doctor before the registration deadline passes. If you visit your local urgent care, an experienced physician can perform the physical so that your child does not miss out on the opportunity to play a sport.
3. Work/School Excuses
Some employers require employees to turn in a doctor's note when they have been out sick for several days. Schools may also require a doctor's note under similar circumstances. If your primary care doctor has a full schedule, you may not be able to get an appointment when you are sick, leaving you scrambling to find a way to satisfy your employer's or school's requirements. If you visit an urgent care clinic, you will be able to see a doctor, get treated for your illness and obtain a valid medical excuse.
Although urgent care is not a substitute for primary care, there are many circumstances in which a visit to a walk-in clinic makes sense. If your primary care physician can't fit you in and you have a time-sensitive medical need, your local walk-in clinic is a great alternative.
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