Learn the Walk In Clinic Pros and Cons

It can be hard to know whether you should go to a walk in clinic, emergency room, or doctor's office. What makes it harder to decide is the fact that each option has a few advantages and drawbacks.

One of the most commonly known advantages of this option is that you can get immediate health care without sitting in the waiting room for hours. Most doctors can only get you in within days, or at least in several hours, and that is only if you get up early in the morning to schedule a same day visit. While emergency rooms let you simply arrive when you need to, you can expect to wait anywhere from an hour to even a whole day or night in the waiting area. When you feel discomfort or outright pain, this does not sound appealing. This is why the typical wait time of anywhere from minutes to a few hours at a walk in clinic is considered a benefit.

Many times, the cost of these kinds of clinics is comparable to what your doctor would charge. Most accept the majority of insurance policies, but you should check first to make sure. Most also have cash discounts and payment plans if you do not have insurance. This means that you do not have to worry about paying the often high hospital costs when you break a bone or have another issue that can be treated at a walk in clinic.

Such clinics usually treat just about everything your regular doctor can deal with. Broken bones, bug bites, and upset stomachs can be treated within minutes in this type of medical setting, so you are not missing out on any of the care you would get with your regular physician. You can even get sports physicals, vaccinations, and general medical advice from such clinics, so there is rarely a reason not to go.

If you are having trouble breathing, or feel chest pains, your condition may be life-threatening, and it may be best to go directly to an emergency room if you have a ride that can get you there fast. If you have any doubt, you are encouraged to call your doctor's office for advice based on your symptoms. If you are in serious condition, you may be moved to the front of the line and admitted to the hospital immediately, in which case the emergency room wait does not apply.

An additional drawback is that you will not be treated by your regular physician when you go to urgent care. Your regular practitioner will have your medical records ready to examine, and may even have a rapport with you that makes you both feel comfortable. So if you feel like you can wait a few days for treatment, you may prefer your typical physician.

Keep these pros and cons in mind when deciding whether to go to a walk in clinic, an emergency room, or your regular doctor.