What is an Urgent Care Clinic?

By Eric M. Folkens, M.D., Family Medicine Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch/Sarasota Urgent Care Walk-In Clinics –

Where do you go if you get sick at a time when your doctor’s office is closed? What if you need medical assistance but you do not live anywhere near a hospital or your injuries are not life threatening? The answer is to find out where the closest urgent care center is to your home and to go there.

If you are sick or have hurt yourself but it is not life threatening then an urgent care clinic is a convenient place to go to be seen by a doctor as quickly as possible. You may have heard of an urgent care center but maybe you aren’t aware of all the things they can help you with when you need medical attention. Here we look at what such a center is all about.

Urgent care as the name implies is medical help that can be sought right away. It is defined as being the delivery of ambulatory care in a facility dedicated to the delivery of medical care outside of a hospital emergency department, usually on an unscheduled, walk-in basis. These centers are primarily aimed at treating patients who are suffering from a sickness or injury that warrants attention immediately but it is not serious enough to require a trip to the ER. This could be everything from getting cut by your pet to developing an ear ache to an upset stomach to a fever or a sore throat.

These care centers are becoming more and more popular all of the time. Many of them were started by emergency room doctors who have responded to a need from the general public in terms of medical care that offers convenient access, does not involve long wait times and is unscheduled.

If you have developed a health issue then do not hesitate to seek treatment at an urgent care center. The back pain you are experiencing may be due to stress or a muscle strain. If you have it examined then you will be provided with a proper diagnosis and you will be able to have assurance and peace of mind that you do not have a serious medical problem on your hands.

The Urgent Care Clinics in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, and Sarasota can provide many medical services for the residents of these communities. These are walk-in urgent care centers that have extended operating hours and no appointment is necessary to be seen by a physician. The experienced doctors that work at the facilities provide treatment for all of the conditions that are deemed as urgent but non-life threatening. This could be a cut or it could be an infection. It could be a virus or it could be a broken finger. If you need medical attention you need to seek it out at an urgent care facility.

Digital X-rays are also conducted at these immediate care medical facilities. If you do not know whether your wrist is sprained , fractured or broken than an on-site X-ray will provide the doctor you see as well as yourself with the answer. In fact the results of the test are interpreted during your wait. If you would like a copy of your X-ray it can be made available to you to take to either your family doctor or a specialist that you are seeing.

In short, an urgent care clinic can help with ALL of your Urgent Care needs including Sore Throats, Flu/Fever, Coughs & Colds, Urinary Infections, Nausea & Vomiting, Ear Aches, Sinus Infections, Lacerations, Sprains & Fractures, High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Eye Injuries, Flu Shots and more.

Medicare and Many Insurance Plans are accepted at most urgent care centers. Some clinics offer lower rates for the self-pay patient which is important for those without insurance or high deductibles.

If you find yourself needing medical care but can’t get an appointment with your primary care physician and you don’t want to spend hours waiting in the hospital emergency room, Urgent Care Clinic offers increased convenience with in-house X-rays and EKG’s and cost savings. There are three convenient locations serving the Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, and Sarasota communities.

Sarasota Urgent Care
6272 Lake Osprey Dr., Sarasota, Fl 34240
(941) 907-2800 | www.SarasotaUrgentCare.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/SarasotaUrgentCare

Bradenton Urgent Care
4647 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, Fl 34209
(941) 745-5999 | www.BradentonUrgentCare.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/BradentonUrgentCare

Lakewood Ranch Urgent Care
9908 S.R. 64 East, Bradenton, Fl 34212
(941) 747-8600 | www.LWRUC.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/LWRUC