Pros and Cons of Urgent Care Centers
Are UCCs Better than Visiting an Emergency Room While Traveling?
Dec 3, 2008
Accidents and illnesses sometimes happen while traveling. There is really not much that can be done to prevent such incidences. If one must seek medical attention while on a trip, don't be surprised to wind up in an urgent care center. Know the pros and cons of these types of medical facilities before choosing to get care there.
Pros of Urgent Care Centers
An urgent care center (UCC) is designed to provide patients with temporary medical assistance, especially for travelers or individuals who do not have a regular primary care physician (PCP). UCC doctors are not intended to become someone's PCP, but rather act as an emergency room that is not open 24 hours a day. Some advantages of using an urgent care center are as follows:
- Most insurance companies list UCCs where individuals under the plan would be totally covered.
- Emergency room treatment tends to be far more expensive than a UCC.
- The co-pay, in most cases, is higher in an emergency room, while a UCC's visit is typically the same as a doctor's office visit.
- There is no need to make an appointment; just walk right in. The wait will be less at a UCC than in a hospital emergency room, especially during the holidays or vacation time periods.
- There are usually more UCCs available in a given area than hospitals, so there is a greater chance of locating these rather than an emergency room.
- A UCC tends to see patients on a first-come first-serve bases, while in an emergency room it is based on who is the most sick.
Cons of Urgency Care Centers
Unfortunately, most UCCs are not open 24 hours a day, like an emergency room at a hospital. For this reason, you may not be able to get the care you need from such a facility when you need it. There are other things to consider before thinking about using a UCC.
- UCC doctors will basically treat what they see and then release patients. Emergency room doctors are specialists who want to make a diagnose and make sure patients are well before discharge, even if it means an extended stay in the hospital.
- UCC doctors who cannot handle a particular case will wind up sending patients to an emergency room anyway. This means a wasted trip, if the patient is not sure about the seriousness of the medical condition.
- UCC facilities are typically not set up to do extra tests such as X-rays, or CAT scans, or even some types of blood work. An emergency room is located in a standard hospital where these tests can be performed promptly.
If a patient is suffering from any respiratory or cardiac problem, go to the emergency room rather than a UCC. An emergency room will respond quicker, and will usually solicit the aid of a specialist as far as recommendations of medications and possible treatments.
Actions to Take Before Your Trip
To make any trip complete, take extra measures to make sure you are covered in the event of an accident or illness. These steps will help your visit to a UCC easier.
- Make a list of all medications, illnesses, and primary care physician's (PCP) telephone numbers.
- Make sure your traveling companions know where this list is.
- Remember that the primary goal of an urgent care center is it to provide temporary medical assistance until you can return to your regular PCP.
If a UCC facility is used for any reason, the regular PCP should know about it as soon as traveling has ended. Followup is important to maintain good health.
A UCC may be a great choice to use under the right circumstances. Know what particular facilities are covered by insurance before selecting one to visit while out of town, and the process should go much more smoothly. Also pay attention to conditions that are best suited for an emergency room, so you know exactly where to go.
Note: This article is not intended to be solid medical advice. It is rather an informational piece to help aid in an informed decision. Speak with a PCP before traveling to see what he advises, should unforeseen mishaps occur.
