Urgent Care
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Last updated by Michael Barber on Jul 10, 2018
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Key Points
- Urgent care centers provide a range of medical services including treatment of non-emergent health conditions, diagnostics, and routine items like vaccinations.
- Common conditions treated at urgent care centers include allergic reactions, cuts, burns, sprains, colds, flu, and more.
- Most urgent care centers offer lab services similar to those provided in emergency rooms or by primary care doctors, including COVID-19 tests, blood tests, STD tests, and pregnancy tests.
- Routine services such as vaccinations, physicals, gynecologic exams, and drug screenings are also offered by urgent care facilities.
- Urgent care centers can also treat unexplained symptoms like rashes, coughing, body and muscle aches, nausea, and headaches. However, they are not equipped to handle life-threatening conditions, for which emergency services should be contacted.
Contents
- What Conditions Are Treated at Urgent Care?
- Do Urgent Care Centers ProvideLab Services?
- Do Urgent Care Centers Offer Preventative Health Services?
- What Symptoms are Treated at Urgent Care?
- Do Urgent Care Centers Administer IVs and Medication?
- Non Life-Threatening Conditions
- Frequently Asked Questions
Urgent care centers can provide a wide variety of medical services and treat a large number of non-emergent health conditions. These range from routine items such as vaccinations to diagnostics such as lab work.
Key Points
- Urgent care centers provide a range of medical services including treatment of non-emergent health conditions, diagnostics, and routine items like vaccinations.
- Common conditions treated at urgent care centers include allergic reactions, cuts, burns, sprains, colds, flu, and more.
- Most urgent care centers offer lab services similar to those provided in emergency rooms or by primary care doctors, including COVID-19 tests, blood tests, STD tests, and pregnancy tests.
- Routine services such as vaccinations, physicals, gynecologic exams, and drug screenings are also offered by urgent care facilities.
- Urgent care centers can also treat unexplained symptoms like rashes, coughing, body and muscle aches, nausea, and headaches. However, they are not equipped to handle life-threatening conditions, for which emergency services should be contacted.
Contents
- What Conditions Are Treated at Urgent Care?
- Do Urgent Care Centers ProvideLab Services?
- Do Urgent Care Centers Offer Preventative Health Services?
- What Symptoms are Treated at Urgent Care?
- Do Urgent Care Centers Administer IVs and Medication?
- Non Life-Threatening Conditions
- Frequently Asked Questions
Urgent care centers can provide a wide variety of medical services and treat a large number of non-emergent health conditions. These range from routine items such as vaccinations to diagnostics such as lab work.
What Conditions Are Treated at Urgent Care?
The biggest service offered by urgent care facilities is the treatment of common, non life-threatening illnesses and injuries. In general, the things that are treated in urgent care facilities include:
- Allergic reactionsand asthma
- Cuts, burns, bug bites and animal bites
- Falls, sprains, strains, and broken bones
- Colds and flus
- Pink eye
- Ear infections
- Sinus pressure and sinus infections (sinusitis)
- Bronchitis and strep throat
Do Urgent Care Centers ProvideLab Services?
Most urgent care centers offer a variety of lab services to better diagnose and help patients. Lab services may be in conjunction with other treatment procedures, diagnostics, and more. The laboratory services offered through an urgent care facility are the same type of services that are offered in an emergency room or through your primary care doctor. Specifically, they include the following lab services:
- COVID-19Tests, COVID-19 AntibodyTests
- Blood tests including blood glucose,basic and comprehensive metabolic panels, complete blood counts, etc.
- Electrolyte testing
- STD tests
- Pregnancy tests
- Urinalysis
- Drug tests and screenings
- Fecal blood occult
- Flu tests and rapid flu tests
- Strep tests
- PT / INR tests
Do Urgent Care Centers Offer Preventative Health Services?
Urgent care centers also offer a variety of routine services for patients. These services can include many preventative or regular items. Some things included in the routine services offered by urgent care facilities are:
- Vaccinations and flu shots
- Physicals (DOT,school, sports, or annual)
- Gynecologic exams
- Drug screening
- Well baby checks
- And more
What Symptoms are Treated at Urgent Care?
Sometimes, you may not know exactly what is wrong. In this case, it is still a good idea to come to an urgent care facility if you are experiencing some of the following symptoms:
- Rashesanditching
- Coughing(anddry cough),sneezingand wheezing
- Sore throatand strep throat
- Body and muscle aches
- Nausea, diarrhea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Other unexplained pain or swelling
Do Urgent Care Centers Administer IVs and Medication?
Because the staff at all urgent care facilities are medical professionals – either doctors or nurse practitioners, they are able to give you the best medical advice and offerings available. In some cases, this may include items such as IVs and medication. This is on a case-by-case basis. If it is determined that you require a medication, a prescription and more information will be given to you. In addition, if you are dehydrated and require an IV, this will be explained and a medical professional will get this started.
Non Life-Threatening Conditions
It is crucial to remember that if you are encountering a life threatening condition, you need to call 911 or get to the emergency room. Urgent care facilities are generally not equipped to deal with these.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of conditions can be treated at urgent care centers?
Urgent care centers can treat a wide variety of non-emergent health conditions. These include allergic reactions, asthma, cuts, burns, bug bites, animal bites, falls, sprains, strains, broken bones, colds, flus, pink eye, ear infections, sinus pressure, sinus infections, bronchitis, and strep throat.
What kind of lab services do urgent care centers provide?
Most urgent care centers offer a variety of lab services including COVID-19 tests, blood tests, electrolyte testing, STD tests, pregnancy tests, urinalysis, drug tests and screenings, fecal blood occult, flu tests, strep tests, and PT / INR tests.
Do urgent care centers offer preventative health services?
Yes, urgent care centers offer a variety of routine services for patients which can include vaccinations, flu shots, physicals, gynecologic exams, drug screenings, well baby checks, and more.
What symptoms can be addressed at urgent care centers?
Urgent care centers can address symptoms such as rashes, itching, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, sore throat, strep throat, body and muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, and other unexplained pain or swelling.
Can urgent care centers administer IVs and medication?
Yes, the medical professionals at urgent care facilities can administer IVs and medication on a case-by-case basis. If it is determined that you require a medication, a prescription and more information will be given to you. If you are dehydrated and require an IV, this will be explained and a medical professional will get this started.
Are urgent care centers equipped to deal with life-threatening conditions?
No, urgent care facilities are generally not equipped to deal with life-threatening conditions. If you are encountering a life-threatening condition, you need to call 911 or get to the emergency room.
Are the lab services offered at urgent care centers similar to those offered in an emergency room or through a primary care doctor?
Yes, the laboratory services offered through an urgent care facility are the same type of services that are offered in an emergency room or through your primary care doctor.
Can I go to an urgent care center if I don't know exactly what is wrong?
Yes, if you are experiencing symptoms but are unsure of the cause, it is a good idea to visit an urgent care facility for diagnosis and treatment.
Written by Michael Barber|Jul 10, 2018
Michael is an experienced healthcare marketer, husband and father of three. He hasworked alongside healthcare leaders atJohns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, St. Luke's, Baylor Scott and White, HCA, and many more, and currently leads strategic growth at Solv.
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