When you or a family member becomes ill or hurt at some random time, it infuriates you. You do not need to go running to the emergency room each time but do need to get medical attention promptly. That is where urgent care centers come in handy.
If you are in High Point, NC, then you may have to search for “urgent care near me” or “urgent care High Point NC.” These facilities provide immediate, trustworthy, and affordable medical care without unnecessary delay in the hospital emergency room waiting area.
This blog will share with you all you’d ever like to know about High Point, NC urgent care—what it is, when to go, what’s provided, and how to choose the appropriate center for your situation.
What Is Urgent Care?
Urgent care is medical treatment that diagnoses and treats non-emergency illness or injury. It’s the “middle ground” between your doctor’s office and the emergency room.
Urgent care centers that are available to correct issues that need to be done right away but are not an emergency.
Examples:
- Fever or flu
- Ear infection
- Sore or strep throat
- Cuts and scrapes that need to be stitched
- Minor burns
- Sprains and minor breaks
- Allergic reactions (not the bad kind)
- Urinary tract infections
- Skin rash or skin issues
If you’re severely injured, have chest pain, or can’t breathe, you’ll need to go straight to the emergency room. But for most people, urgent care is the way to go.
Why Use Urgent Care in High Point NC?
High Point, NC urgent care facilities are so popular because they’re affordable, fast, and easy. Nobody has to wait a day or two to see the doctor, and nobody wants to pay the cost of going to an ER either.
The best benefits are:
- No appointment: Just pop on over when the time arrives.
- Later schedule: Weekends and nights are usually available at most facilities.
- Shorter wait: Faster than emergency rooms.
- Affordable: Much less expensive than a bill from an ER.
- Total care: X-rays through testing, most urgent cares do it all.
Urgent care streamlines health care and makes it less stressful for High Point families.
Types of Services Provided by High Point NC Urgent Care
High Point, NC urgent cares offer a range of services, generally the same as from a visit with a doctor’s office but in a more convenient location. Some of these are:
- Illness treatment: Flu, strep throat, sinus infection, bronchitis.
- Injury treatment: Cuts, sprains, minor fractures, burns.
- Lab work: Blood work, strep tests, flu tests, urinalysis.
- X-rays: To identify broken bones or chest problems.
- Physicals: School physicals, sports physicals, work physicals.
- Vaccines: Routine flu shots, tetanus shots, travel vaccines.
- Occupational medicine: Occupational injury treatment, drug testing.
With all these different types of services, urgent care is the perfect solution for families and individuals.
Cost of High Point NC Urgent Care
High Point urgent care visit cost depends on the clinic and your insurance. The visit is $100 to $250 if you do not have insurance. You will pay only a small copay if you do have insurance.
That’s less than half of the price of an emergency room visit, which is $500 or several thousand dollars depending on treatment.
Most large insurance policies are accepted at most of the busy urgent care centers in High Point, but always verify and confirm.
Tips For Choosing an Urgent Care Center in High Point NC
When selecting an urgent care center, take into consideration:
- Location: Select one near work or home.
- Hours: Ensure that it is open evenings and weekends if necessary.
- Insurance: Ensure they accept your coverage.
- Services: Check if they offer lab work, X-rays, and other services you might require.
- Reviews: Read what patients review online so you can see waiting time and patient care.
- Staff qualifications: Make sure centers are equipped with board-certified physicians or nurse practitioners.
These little steps save you time and give you quality care when you need it the most.
Urgent Care vs. Primary Care
Others wonder whether urgent care replaces their family doctor. No, it does not. Your family doctor holds all of your medical history and handles long-term issues, chronic disease, and well-checks.
Urgent care is perfect in the event of sudden sickness or injury when your primary doctor isn’t present. You obviously have both—a general practitioner for everyday use and urgent care for unexpected health needs.
Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room
It is also best to learn when to visit urgent care and when you need to visit the emergency room.
Visit urgent care when you have:
- Fever or flu
- Cuts that need stitches
- Sprains or minor fractures
- Rash
- Ear or sinus infection
- Minor burns
Visit the ER when you have:
- Chest pain or pressure
- Severe shortness of breath
- Big wounds or broken bones protruding
- Seizure
- Bleeding in a stable location
- Stroke-like presentation (sudden weakness, slurred speech)
Watch as the difference is made and time, money, and even lives are saved.
Benefits of High Point NC Urgent Care
Urgent care centers have several benefits, especially in a big city like High Point:
- Treatment in a timely manner compared to ER
- Affordability
- Ability to schedule around work or school
- One stop shopping
- Easy access without waiting weeks for a scheduled appointment
These are the benefits for which the majority of people in High Point visit urgent care for less complicated illnesses.
Urgent Care Procedures
During your visit to High Point urgent care, the following are the steps so that your visit is effective:
- Bring your ID and insurance card.
- Describe your symptoms and when they began.
- Carry a list of medications that you are taking.
- Be ready to provide your medical history.
- If you have a follow-up, get directions.
Preparation makes the doctor treat you well and at the right time.
Urgent care High Point, NC is an affordable, convenient way to receive non-emergency medical treatment. With an acute fever coming on suddenly, minor trauma, or as a checkup, these centers are quick treatment without waiting in the hospital emergency room.
Though you might be residing in High Point, being close to the nearest urgent care centers makes you somewhat safer. They bridge the gap between your doctor and hospital emergency rooms to ensure that you are provided with adequate care when required.
Spend the time choosing the best urgent care in your area as a promise that regardless of when you may find yourself in need of it, you and your loved ones will be treated.