If you cannot visit your primary physician whether it be due to unavailability or needing a same-day appointment, you may need to visit an urgent care facility. An urgent care is similar to an emergency room offering some of the same services, but without the high costs and long wait times. You may need to search for urgent care near me to receive treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. 

Location, Location, Location

When you need urgent care, driving an hour out of the away isn’t always an option. You should search for urgent care near me to ensure that the distance from your home is close enough to get the treatment you need in a timely manner. This will help you to reduce the time between your incident and getting treatment for it. A longer drive can delay treatment. 

Insurance Coverage

You should find out whether the medical center you choose accepts your insurance. Prices will vary based on in-network and out of network benefits. Typically, an out-of-network provider will cost you more than an in-network provider. 

Convenient Hours  

Each urgent care facility will have different hours of operation. It is important to know what they are so you can get the care you need as soon as possible. The hours may also depend on what type of care you need. If you need immediate care, an urgent care that only takes appointments may not be your best option. 

Appointments

If you need a service that requires an appointment, you should consider whether or not you can make an appointment online. Without an appointment, you can end up waiting anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. This can vary based on how many patients there are, how many appointments are still available, and how much treatment is required for each patient. Scheduling an appointment is likely to result in shorter wait times of around five to ten minutes on average. 

Types of Providers

There are various types of providers that can be found at an urgent care near me. Some of the most common providers you may come across are:

• Physicians
• Nurse practitioners
• Physician’s assistants
• Pediatrician
• Lab technicians

This is not an exhaustive list but provides a condensed overview of the kinds of services you may be able to receive by visiting this kind of a facility. 

Will They Share Information With Your PCP?

You may be visiting this type of a medical facility because your primary physician is unavailable, but you still may need to follow up with your PCP to catch them up to speed on your current health status. It is important to find out whether or not the facility you visit is able to share your medical information with your primary doctor. 

Find an Urgent Care Near Me in Los Angeles

The need for an urgent care facility may not cross your mind until you are in need of one at a moment’s notice. It is a good rule of thumb to know where local hospitals are and also search for urgent care near me to find out which facilities are closest to you. You will be better prepared to decide on a course of action if an incident does occur or you begin to feel sick. You should contact UrgentMED to find an urgent care center near you.