Turns out working 60 hours a week and being the mother of a preteen has its consequences. In fact, after nearly five months of this crazy schedule of serving as the catering and party manager of a local coffee shop and party venue, you find yourself barely able to get out of bed. You understand the difference between emergency room and urgent care services and costs and you know that your symptoms do not merit an expensive visit to the hospital.
Today’s health consumers need to make a conscientious decision every time they need care. Obviously, if you are facing an emergency situation the emergency room is the only option. In many other cases, however, one of the many urgent care locations that are available are the affordable and convenient solution.
Convenient Care Is a Priority for Many Health Consumers
As a record number of Americans now have health care insurance, there are more and more people who are looking for ways to get the services that are now covered. In the past, the only non emergency option was visiting a family physician or pediatrician office. Today, however, there are a number of urgent care locations and walk in clinics that offer reliable care. By offering evening and weekend hours, these convenient options often make the most sense in the busy lives that we lead. Parents, for instance, can find out if their teenager has strep throat and get the needed medications without having to miss work. The teenager is also able to get the needed diagnosis without having to miss class.
A growing number of consumers understand the implications of the healthcare choices that they make. Fortunately, only 3% of patients who come to an urgent care center ever need to be diverted to an emergency department, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. This means that most of the people who are seeking healthcare understand the role that different healthcare platforms provide.
There are 7,357 urgent care centers in the U.S., according to Urgent Care Association of America’s 2016 Benchmarking Report. This number marks an increase from the count of 6,707 in 2015. Whether you are dealing with the stress of overworking yourself the last few months or you are searching for a quick answer to a concern about strep throat, it is always important to realize that there are many kinds of health care options available.
