The difference between urgent and emergency is often lost on the average American citizen. this is rather sad because the difference between these two types of healthcare centers can separate smart decisions from bad decisions. Thus, it is important to understand the difference between urgent and emergency.

The difference between urgent and emergency deals with the types of services they provide. Urgent care centers are better for minor problems like colds, sprains, and other minor health issues. An emergency room provides services that are better for people who could potentially die or suffer from catastrophic harm from their situation.

Just about 25,000 Americans suffer from an ankle sprain each day. Most people are unaware that an urgent care can provide help for physical injuries. However, you should know that four out of five urgent care centers provide fracture care.

Dizziness is the second most common complaint heard in doctor’s offices and will occur in 70% of the nation’s population at some time in their lives. These types of minor issues are better treated at urgent care centers. So make sure you understand the difference between urgent and emergency before you visit a healthcare facility.

An estimated 3 million patients visit urgent care centers each week, according to the Urgent Care Association of America. So it seems like there are more and more patients that understand the difference between visiting a local hospital versus a nearby urgent care. Make sure that you also understand the difference between urgent and emergency!

Roughly 60% of all urgent care centers have a wait time of fewer than 15 minutes to see a physician or mid-level provider, and 65% have a physician on-site at all times. These physicians can provide a high-level type of treatment for a physical injury. Thus, you should visit an urgent care for a minor sprain or fracture injury situation.

According to a private study conducted by Milliman, approximately 44-65% of all ER episodes could have been treated in urgent care clinic settings. So you should understand that the reach of an urgent care center is great and they can help with a number of issues ranging from a cold to a serious injury. Every year, Americans get approximately 1 billion colds.

The average child catches between six and 10 colds a year. If your child has an ear infection or a cold then you need to take them to a pediatric urgent care near me for more help. Five out of six children will have at least one ear infection before they turn three and nearly 40% of kids will have three or more ear infections by that age.

Data from the 2014 National Health Interview Survey, short for NHIS, revealed that 8.4% of all United States children suffered from hay fever, 10% from respiratory allergies, 5.4% from food allergies, and 11.6% from skin allergies. If you have children that deal with an allergy, do not go to an ER. Instead, understand the difference between urgent and emergency so that you can get the most out of your situation.

In Conclusion

It is absolutely important that adults understand the difference between urgent and emergency. If not, they could potentially end up in a sitaution where they pay high-cost medical bills that are overwhelming and unfair. Instead, understand where is urgent care near me for the best results.