Urgent Care Visits

Only been to an urgent care once, that was to get tested for covid-19 in 2021…

My personal experience and my family’s experience is that they typically provide substandard care at an inflated price.

I was lucky to find one though, where they actually knew what they were doing.

I fell into a situation with my former employer at the start of the new year in 2022 where, since I was not vaccinated, I had to show proof of a negative covid test each week by going to a place. A home kit would not suffice. So I found a UC place about 15 mins away from home where i went each week on Sundays or sometime Saturdays for 2 ½ months (til i found a much better job that didn't require it). I remember having to have a signed hard copy that I had to scan, and then i think after a while, using the patient portal was acceptable.

Scheduling with them was fairly easy, though they wouldn't let me set up a regular weekly spot in advance. But each week they were accommodating. and it worked out. Though after a few weeks, one of the staff there told me I was taking the wrong test, not covered by my insurance or whatever, and that I might be getting billed for them. Then they had me take a different test which would be sent out and I wouldn't hear back for a few days, which was covered. In the end, i never had to pay any money luckily, because it didn't seem like my employer would pick up the tab.

But the staff there were very friendly and made the hassle somewhat pleasant, even though getting swabbed deep into my nose wasn't that pleasant. The place had 4 rooms you could possibly be brought into, and especially at that time, rooms had to be extra disinfected between patients. But they had managed to be efficient in doing that.

I go to the urgent care that's run by the local hospital system (and physically located inside their clinic). I haven't gone much since I was younger, usually for stuff like strep tests, anything too mild for the ER but too time sensitive for scheduling an appointment a month out at best, lol

I used to work for one of the better ones, and I'll be honest, I would much rather see my primary. I've seen how the sausage is made so to speak in both offices, and I know which one I prefer. Also doesn't help the urgent care I used to work at is in really hot water with the feds for Medicare fraud among other things. Not as in slap on the wrist hot water, as in full criminal trial in federal court hot water.

It seems like their public mission is to be convenient, but it doesn't always work out that way. I've had mixed luck with them depending on circumstance. In my experience you generally don't encounter as many MDs there, but rather physician assistants, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, although the ones I've met haven't exactly been the pillars of their field. Overall, I suppose urgent care is better than nothing, but I think it has a long way to go. But in some communities, it may indeed ultimately be part of the broader overall answer.

I can offer this, and without going into detail. I work for a company that owns or manages in the vicinity of 50 UCCs. UCCs in my opinion are maturing into the most accessible and viable means of affordable and "user friendly" places to receive health care on a wide scope. They are not intended to replace the ER, nor the neighborhood doctor. What's trying to be achieved is an open door for non-emergency medical attention in some areas on a 24/7 basis. UCCs for the most part are no-longer "McMedicine" nor "Doc in a box" places, but viable and accessible members of the healthcare delivery system.

My 50+ year old son used the one nearby and it was just a waste of HIS money, over $100. Then they wanted him to come back... He could have seen his PCP by that time. He had to go to his PCP anyway. Next time he's going to go to his PCP or the ER.

I go to them periodically. They are a useful middle ground between your own pcp and the emergency room at some hospital. I’ve used them when I am too ill or uncomfortable from some accident to wait for an appointment with my pcp, but not so much so I want to tolerate the bedlam that exists in the emergency rooms of most hospitals. All I really want sometimes is a prescription and some reassurance there is nothing seriously wrong. Urgent Care has been a good choice on those occasions.

Local urgent cares are very good. I have used them several times for things that I could not get in to see my pcp for. Once for kidney stone, a cute nurse gave me an injection in my butt for pain. Another time for a cough and head cold, and then last year for a case of poison oak. It was all over my legs and all around my genitalia. A young cute physician’s Assistant came into the room and asked me what I had going on and after I told her she grabbed a pair of gloves and asked me to lower my shorts and underwear so she could get a look. She was sitting on a stool in front of me checking my goods out. She gave me a prescription and then gave me a shot of a steroid in my butt.

I used them when I had my HSA (health savings account). Cheaper to get your annual flu shots/antibiotics for whooping cough/pneumonia and you just pay with your account. You get to see how much money you have in case of emergencies vs. trying to figure out copay.

I've been to urgent care a few times. Once was cause I was really sick with a nasty cold and of course I was tested for covid-19. No covid-19 but just a nasty cold. The next time I had to drop my pants cause I had a nasty boil on my right butt cheek. Was cause I had mersa and didn't even know it. It just drained by itself and went away. Overall I think urgent care is a good and quick alternative

I have been to an urgent care once. I had a skin tag that I tried to remove myself (bad idea) and I couldn’t stop the bleeding. My choices at the time were the urgent care center located 10 minutes away and virtually no waiting or the ER, 20 minutes away and who knows the wait time. I went to the urgent care, got immediate service and they stitched me up. If circumstances arise would not hesitate to use them again

I also like that the medical assistants there wear gloves throughout an entire exam no matter what it is

I also like that the medical assistants there wear gloves throughout an entire exam no matter what it is

That is most likely for their protection versus yours!!!

Of course they were wearing masks as well

That is true @Rigel

I avoid them at all costs. You’re paying expensive medical fees, without being seen by a medical doctor. I’ve had them do unnecessary bloodwork on me, when I didn’t need it. It ended up costing me almost a thousand dollars, to be seen by a nurse practitioner, for a viral infection.

The HMO I belong to has excellent Urgent Care. The only exception was last year. I had gone to one because I couldn’t get in to see my PCP that day. The problem was I thought I had a UTI. The doc/PA I saw said they couldn’t treat men for that because it was too involved. I ended up seeing a PA in my PCP’s practice that day but she was clueless as to how to diagnose a UTI in men. The next day, yes three visits in two days, I saw a male doc in their practice. He ordered the usual urinalysis and ordered a PSA and STI blood test as well. He also started me on Cipro but switched it to a sulfa drug after the tests came back. Blood in my urine, white blood cells too. PSA of 17, negative for STI’s.

Anyway I have had great luck visiting Urgent Care Centers when a cold progresses to bronchitis. I am an asthmatic so it almost always happened to me. Cheaper, faster than the ER with excellent care.

Just like any medical practice there will be everything from downright terrible to phenomenal care. This includes urgent care clinics as well. My mom uses an urgent care clinic when she can’t get into her GP the same day or within 24 hrs. The MA’s, RN’s, NP’s, PA’s and MD’s are excellent and thorough. I’ve met them. They are there because they enjoy the diversity of what they deal with vs a regular office. They keep a variety of specialists available. I’ve been there when they have received a patient via emergency transport/paramedics/ambulance. If needed, they will call for transport to the ER.

@Srgfgahs,

Sounds like you just got the runaround regarding your UTI. Very shameful on them. Such BS! Sorry you went through this.

@Srgfgahs,

Sounds like you just got the runaround regarding your UTI. Very shameful on them. Such BS! Sorry you went through this.

Yeah, that's not right. My wife used to get UTIs quite often and our PCP just put a standing order in for a urine test. I dont' see why urgent care didn't order that as a a first step rather than saying they couldn't treat men for a UTI. How do they treat women differently for a suspected infection???

I've been to an urgent care facility near me twice and found the care to be equal to any ER and better than my PCP. My only complaint is that they are open less than 12 hours per day. Like emergencies, the need for urgent medical care are not restricted to bankers' hours.