Urgent Care Visits

As many Urgent Cares are popping up in many areas. It seems it is the new trend. What are some of your experiences at them?

I rarely ever go but whenever I pass one I gotta admit, I am always tempted to go in a check em out. I used to go more often than my PCP but I changed that recently.

There is something about an urgent care setting that I do enjoy though.

What are Y'all thoughts on them!

They are good for non-life threatening emergencies and illnesses and simple injuries.

ch85 said

. . . .whenever I pass one I gotta admit, I am always tempted to go in a check em out. I used to go more often than my PCP but I changed that recently.

There is something about an urgent care setting that I do enjoy though. What are Y'all thoughts on them!

THEY ARE NOT FOR YOUR FETISHES

Not something I would use for a fetish and don't believe I have stated so either...

I agree it is for non life threatening conditions. They are for the most part cleaner and quicker in my opinion, which would make them more enjoyable. They are good for times that you cant get to a PCP or just need a quick visit for meds.

Come to Canada. we have government funded health care everyone is covered for doctor, hospital and lots more but there are no docs accepting new pts. The docs bill per visit so they are not on salary, independent businesses. Even er docs bill the govt insurance. There are walk-in clinics, but all bill just the same.

so........no prevention only damn good critical care

I've worked at an urgent care facility. I didn't enjoy it as much as I do hospital emergency work. If someone came in to satisfy a fetish rather than to honestly seek medical care I would be enraged. You've been warned.

You're right - the urgent cares are popping up all over. The number of patients that have to be seen each day to cover the cost of the practice, on the order of 8-10 patients per day for the basic urgent care (no lab, rad, etc.). Most have side work - occupational health, drug testing, etc. - so that reduces the number of visits from the urgent care side even more.

There is a big problem with going into an urgent care with a fake condition to satisfy your fetish. First, if they figure it out, you're screwed and screwed hard. Depending on the provider, you could even wind up with federal problems as a complaint of pain can be interpreted as falsifying a condition to receive narcotics. Second, the diagnostic limitations of the urgent care could have you wind up in an ER, after an ambulance ride. Certainly, this would not be worth the thrill! Oh, and the ER folks - they will figure it out.

I've noticed lately that a lot of the privately owned UC clinics near me are all being bought-up and converted to corporate-owned ones (owned by a hospital or large group practice). I don't know whether that's a good thing or not, really.

As far as my own experience with them, I have used them from time to time. My experiences run from bad all the way to very good. See this post for more info:

http://www.zity.biz/index.php?mx=forum;ox=display;msg=751525

I called on many "Doc in the boxes", as we drug reps called them. Most of them had personnel who did the best job they could and had doctors who were fairly competent. I did seem to notice people in the waiting rooms who had questionable conditions, like minor cuts, splinters, or headaches that they themselves called migraines (with no nausea, or visual disturbances). Probably tension headaches, or drug seeking.

I went to one for hematuria and they immediately sent me to an E.R. for a CT scan. Glad I went: they found an aortic aneurysm and a bladder polyp that was bleeding. Both conditions required surgery. I think they are great if you can't get in to see your family Doc for a few days.

Urgent care is a place you go when you're in that weird gray area between needing to see a physician ASAP, but it doesn't necessarily require the ER.

I went to one a few years ago because I broke a glass vase and a piece of the glass cut one of my toes deep enough you could see the bone. Pretty gnarly at the time. In my professional opinion, it definitely needed sutures, but I wasn't going to sit in the ER waiting because it wasn't an emergency. Went over to the local UC and was in and out in about an hour.

Echoing everyone's thoughts: please don't use doctors offices, UC, or hospitals for your fetishes. How many times does it need to be said?

I recently had this same convo with a friend of mine. She said that where she lives in Texas they have 24 hour ones which are considered ERs but not a hospital and essentially are identical to urgent care. I think we could use some of those in NY! I don't think they have any 24 hour urgent care centers around here. Although, I'm sure they would bill the insurance as if you went to the ER!

Yeah one of those just opened up across the interstate from my college apparenty it is an urgent care and an ER so it can treat emergencies that can be treated in ERs and Urgent care stuff admittedly unless I feel like I am dying or definitely need medical care I won't go to it but seems to me to be the perfect place to put one because I know me and a lot of people here do a lot of stupid stuff

I've gone a few times and have been quite satisfied. The first time was for an allergic reaction that caused hives. Not life threatening, but still painful enough that I didn't want to wait for a doctor's appointment. Same scenario for another trip: a head cold and a four-hour flight did not mix well. I was having trouble hearing the next day, so I walked in and was treated immediately. I find urgent care clinics convenient and very helpful.

We have two in my small town. One--which my insurance has a deal with is staffed by PAs who are not very good. The other is better but i have to foot the entire bill out of pocket.

We have an urgent care affiliated with the regional medical center. I had occasion to visit a couple of years ago for what turned out to be viral pneumonia. I was seen by a PA who did the exam and She sent me for a chest x-ray. Both she and the nurse were competent and friendly. The next morning, I received a cal from a physician who told me the radiologist had seen something on the film and he asked me to return for a repeat x-ray with nipple buttons. For some reason, the intake nurse couldn't get it through her head that I did not need to get totally undressed and put on a gown for this procedure. The doctor calmed everything down and the x-ray proved negative. I guess the answer, is like with any medical practice, there are good and not-so-good practitioners.

I have been to one a few times and don't look forward to it at all. Usually staffed by doctors who just want to get you in and out as fast as possible and have very poor attitudes.

My family doctor has a few appointments a day set aside for urgent visits and the medical center that he is in has it's own after hours clinic for patients of doctors in that building. I tend to stick with one of those before I will go to urgent care.

I've been generally happy with CVS's Minute Clinic for simple stuff. I'd still want to see my doctor for complex things or a real emergency room for serious urgent problems.

My first wife (an RN) worked in one for 12+ years. However, it was not a "chain", but part of a large, reputable outpatient clinic in a small city. The doctors there were VERY good. Some of the nurses had little trauma or ER experience, but after several years my wife (who had worked in ERs for 15+ years) had enough influence to "help" direct some of the RN hiring...

We have several of those urgent care clinics around here. Last year my wife had some intense side and back pain, and it was just after our doctor's office closed for the day. She wouldn't go to the ER, but I was able to talk her into going to one of the urgent care centers. We chose the one affiliated with the hospital our doctor has privileges with, figuring it was more reputable. We were not disappointed. They took her in fairly quick, and she was diagnosed with a kidney stone. They gave her some pain meds, with instructions to go to the ER if the pain got worse. I was in the exam room with her, and got to see her receive a shot of pain meds in her butt. She had to lower her yoga pants to just below her butt cheeks and bend over the exam table for the shot. She was wearing a thong, so she didn't lower her panties. I don't remember what the pain medication was, but it was non narcotic.

She passed the stone a few days later. It wasn't much bigger than a grain of sand, she didn't even feel it pass. But they told her to check the toilet after urinating, and she saw it and collected it so they could test it to see what it consisted of per their instruction. It turned out to be a garden variety kidney stone. Luckily she hasn't had any since, and hopefully it stays that way!

Rabidbiker,

What else happened during that exam? I would think typically they would send you to an ER for that to prevent liability. Lucky her! Glad she is alright now!

Rabidbiker,

What else happened during that exam? I would think typically they would send you to an ER for that to prevent liability. Lucky her! Glad she is alright now!

The doctor took a detailed history of her symptoms, and examined her side in the area of her kidney. She didn't have to undress or change into a gown, just lift her shirt to expose her abdomen and side. The doctor told us that he has been a lifelong sufferer of kidney stones, and has had many over the years, and that my wife had the exact same symptoms he does when he has a stone about to pass.

His instructions were clear, if the pain gets worse, go to the ER for a cat scan or MRI, I don't remember which one he said. He did offer to refer her for one that night, but she decided to wait and see if the pain meds worked. The shot took effect after only a few minutes, and he wrote her a script for pain pills to help her manage the pain while waiting for the stone to pass.

The pain meds worked quite well, and she passed the stone a few days later. It was tiny, we were amazed something so small could cause so much pain. The weird thing is she never felt it pass, but saw it in the commode because she was checking each time she urinated. The doctor wanted to test the stone to see what it was made up of, which I guess helps them determine the cause, such as diet related, etc.

Urgent Care Centres must be different in the US. Here, it's almost the same as an ER. In fact the one in my area is a former ER (they changed that hospital to out patient only). It has xray,ultrasound, lab etc. I go there if I can't get in to my GP's office and it's something that really needs attention or pain is driving me crazy, but it isn't life threatening. Usually, I never need to go more than once a year, twice is rare. Though when I was having trouble with corneal ulcers, I ended up there 3x in a couple months, they always seemed to happen on a Sunday, when the emergency eye clinic I had to go to multiple times a week was closed.

I went with pneumonia one time and they transferred me to the ER in the main hospital, I ended up being admitted for a week. The one paramedic gave me what she called her "lecture" - that with my health issues, I should always to directly to the ER, not urgent care, unless it was a cut finger. I'd still prefer to go to UC and avoid the ER if possible.

More and more urgent care clinics are popping up in my area. It’s doing wonders for the actual ER, as people are gaining more options for simple maladies and injuries to be checked out when their doctors aren’t in. I almost always go to Urgent Care if it’s something that happens on the weekends. I’d rather keep the ER open for major emergencies! I’ve gone for sinus infections, broken bones, and even stitches. Quality care and faster than an ER visit. 😃 (Usually :p )

One of the local hospitals just opened another urgent care clinic in our area. They have been advertising pretty heavily on the radio, saying they provide services such as treatment of minor injuries/illnesses, providing routine, work and sports physicals, etc.

My wife’s cousin was visiting this past weekend. She and her husband are self employed, and have purchased medical insurance, but it is a bare bones policy. So for routine physicals, shots, colds/ flu/sore throats and such, they use the urgent care clinic for themselves and their teenage daughter. The prices they charge are quite a bit less than even a visit to their doctor.

My wife and her cousin were talking about the new clinic, since her cousin had to take her daughter there on Monday of last week for a sports physical for the upcoming spring sports season. She then went back a few days later when she had a few rare free hours so she could get a physical for herself. She tells my wife that since it had been a good three years or so since her last one, the doctor gave her a “thorough once over, including an overdue pap and pelvic.”

My wife’s cousin is quite attractive like my wife, they have a strong family resemblance. I couldn’t help but imagine her in the stirrups!

These pop-ups are occurring all over and do serve a purpose for being seen quickly. With all the flu and colds going around it does make sense to go to one if you can't see your own doc. Many also rely on them for medical care and do get physicals, especially for work and insurance purposes. The one that I used to frequent had one doc and several nurses. They had some 5 exam booths that had walls but only a curtain to pull in the front. They were small, mainly a table to sit on, and a chair. Always felt a lack of privacy, especially for conversation, as one could easily overhear what was said or being done on either side, which could make one eager or anxious!

I don't use doc in a box ,there is to much emphasis on diverting people to these things ,to keep people from going to E.D . Problem there is people aren't doctors and make the wrong choice often ,listen to your local public service band radio frequencies and you will here lots of ambulances responding to heart attacks ,cardiac arrest and evolving stroke patients at doc in a box offices ,in all cases time is heart and brain damage if you survive .

I retired from emergency services so I know the uninformed choices people make ,doc in box is cheaper and faster than an E.D if you are alive to enjoy them. Since I was retired early due to health issues ,I am trained to save lives but can't save myself , I have the training and the knowledge of what to watch out for ? Only problem I can't be an objective observer of myself , like all people I can rationalize away any sign or symptom and minimalize it ,i say that because in 2 heart attacks ,a cardiac arrest and a stroke that I have personally had ,it wasn't until I was unconscious that someone else said he needs an ambulance and can't refuse now and made the choice for me ,and saved my life , When I couldn't .

No matter what you know ,it's not enough to overcome your own brain bias and ability to rationalize " its not happening to me " .Until it is .

Urgent care centres most certainly do have doctors there.

The urgent care centers around here are mostly worthless. 10-5 M-F and no new patients after 3pm. Nights and weekends you have to go to the ER.

Urgent care around here is open after regular medical office hours 430-730pm and saturdays its nice to be able to go there instead of ER for non-life threatening issues

Depends on the facility. Many are staffed by nurse practitioners.

Walgreens and CVS clinics are all NP NOT MD.'s

Also these facilities make their money off those who may not have insurance and or people who want to see a Dr./NP at a time their PCP's office is closed.

So many of these facilities are opened at night and weekends and holidays.

I haven't been to one of the popup urgent care clinics. My regular clinic is actually a medical center and has urgent care from 7am-7pm, six days a week and a 24 hr emergency room. They also have a float team for when we need an appointment and can't get one sooner with our primary care team.

If I have a non-emergency problem, I call the triage nurse and they make a determination where I should go. I previously just went to urgent care without calling. I've been treated by a mixture of MDs, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners at Urgent Care.