Top 5 Things Treated at Urgent Care Centers

Visiting an urgent care center can save time, money, and frustration. An emergency room is designed to take the worst cases first, no matter the order they came in. That means your sprained ankle may be pushed further and further back. But an urgent care or multicare facility may be able to treat that sprained ankle faster. Multicare urgent care wait times for issues such as sprained ankles are often shorter than emergency rooms. But how do you know if you need to go to the emergency room or if you can go to an urgent care center? Here are some of the top things treated at urgent care centers.

1. Open cuts and wounds can be treated. In 2012, the most common procedure performed at urgent care centers was wound repair. The medical staff can clean, stitch, and bandage wounds. They can prescribe medications such as anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial medication for your wound.

2. Bone and joint issues are managed. Reports estimate that on average 25,000 Americans suffer from an ankle sprain each day. That means that at some point in their lives, almost everyone has sprained an ankle. It is faster and easier to treat ankle sprains at an urgent care center. In addition to sprains, 80% urgent care centers can also treat fractures. Whether you have sprained your ankle or broke your leg, an urgent care center can set your injury, prepare a cast or wrap, and give you the appropriate medication.

3. Colds and the flu are always problems. Approximately 1 billion colds occur annually in American people. Up to 20% of Americans get sick with the flu each year. Between the two, it seems someone is always sick. If you are achy, with a cough, fever, or chills, visit your local urgent care center. They may be able to help your cold or flu and set you down the path of recovery.

4. Urinary tract infections are persistent. Around 8.1 million visits to the doctor each year are due to urinary tract issues. The medical staff can check for more serious conditions and treat the infection. Get some medication to clear up that infection and make going easier at your local urgent care facility.

5. Nobody loves poison ivy. About 85% of Americans have an allergy to poison ivy. That means about 85% of Americans will get an itchy rash when they come in contact with the plant. This rash can be treated with less hassle at an urgent care center.

Urgent care centers can treat many of the ailments that have often sent people to the emergency room. But urgent care centers are often quicker and cheaper than emergency room visits. Emergency rooms have to take the most emergent cases first. Those without life-threatening injury or illness may get pushed behind those patients with serious ailments. But at Urgent care facilities, none of the patients have life-threatening injuries or severe illnesses. This can make waiting for a doctor to treat your sprained ankle easier, quicker, and less stressful. Urgent care centers are fully capable of treating a wide range of issues. Nest time you have a pain or illness, consider going to your local urgent care facility.