Urgent Care or Emergency Room?

Many people in the United States are uninsured and will avoid medical care even when it can be critical. In the event of an accident that leaves you injured and in pain it is very important to seek medical care, in the very least to rule out the possibility of serious complications. The emergency room of most hospitals can be busy and the waiting times can seem interminable and the cost of an emergency visit can become astronomical.
For less serious injuries that are still causing pain and discomfort an urgent care facility can be a great option for many. Often the waiting times are considerably less and the total price of a visit is often set out definitively even without the benefit of health insurance. For injuries that could be indicative of a larger problem an emergency room should still be your first option however as they have greater diagnostic facilities and are normally directly connected to a hospital if admittance becomes necessary.
Urgent care facilities are a great choice for slips and falls without head injuries, they will be able to rule out fractures or breaks in many cases and prescribe medication for recuperation. In many cases unless a break is obvious then an emergency room can be a lot of time and inconvenience to be told that there is nothing further damaged. With sprains, while painful they do not often require further medical assistance or expertise and can be diagnosed quickly and advice and medication offered.
Often if an appointment with your primary care physician is unavailable immediately an urgent care facility can help when you are feeling sick immediately and would prefer to not wait for an appointment. During cold and flu season, doctor offices can be extremely busy and appointment times are at a premium. Diagnosis of an illness and prescription of medication can be handled conveniently without too much extra cost at a different facility.
Urgent care facilities often have flat rate fees for visits and you will understand immediately what the cost will be without having to wait for the bill associated with an emergency room visit. This can be extremely important for those on a budget and those without health insurance. If you are uninsured than these facilities, while more expensive than a primary care physician visit will be considerably cheaper than visiting an emergency room for non-critical issues. Don't suffer from the effects of a minor injury without seeking medical care and if an issue seems serious then it is of the highest importance that you visit an emergency room as soon as possible to ensure that you are treated quickly and thoroughly.