Urgent care centers are available across the country, with over 9,000 locations nationwide. But many people don’t know what type of care urgent care centers provide and how they can utilize the services, specifically how an urgent care center varies from an emergency room visit. Before you visit urgent care in Lexington, KY, read on to learn the major differences between visiting an urgent care clinic over the emergency room.

The Care

The major difference between urgent care and the ER is the care provided. While the ER services both life-threatening injuries and non-life-threatening injuries, an urgent care clinic can only able to provide care for non-life-threatening injuries. Below are a few examples of which common injuries are considered.

Non-Life-Threatening Injuries:

• Bumps, cuts, and scrapes
• Cold or flu symptoms
• Dehydration
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Mild breathing difficulties
• Minor allergic reactions
• Minor Burns
• Nausea
• Skin rashes or infections
• Sprains and strains
• Sore throat
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• Vomiting

Life-Threatening Injuries:

• Head trauma
• Heart attack symptoms, such as chest pain
• Heavy or uncontrollable bleeding
• Moderate or severe burns
• Pregnancy-related problems
• Serious back or neck injury
• Severe allergic reaction
• Severe dizziness, nausea, or vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Stroke symptoms
• Suicidal thoughts
• Unconsciousness

If you are facing a non-life-threatening injury, attending urgent care in Lexington, KY is a great option. You can get the care you need more quickly and with less cost compared to a visit to the emergency room.

The Cost

A visit to the emergency room can get rather expensive. Even with insurance, you could end up paying $1200–$1400 for one visit. Urgent care is much more affordable and averages around $150 per visit, though you could pay less depending on your insurance and your copay. 

The primary reason for the cost difference is the resources required in an emergency room. Since the ER handles life-threatening injuries, they require the staff and equipment to tackle those injuries. The cost associated with keeping these resources on hand is high, which contributes to the cost of your visit. 

Since an urgent care clinic doesn’t provide that level of care, they don’t need expensive equipment and can keep the cost more affordable. Even if you visit an ER for a non-life-threatening injury, you’ll still pay more compared to visiting urgent care in Lexington, KY. 

The Wait Time

One of the most frustrating parts of a trip to the ER is the wait time. The average wait time in an emergency room is 2–3 hours. And, if you’re there for a non-life-threatening injury, you could be waiting longer because the ER has to prioritize major injuries over minor injuries.

At urgent care, wait times are significantly less at 30 minutes or fewer, with most urgent care patients being in and out within an hour. If you have a non-life-threatening injury, your best bet is to visit urgent care instead of an ER.

The Hours

Emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. So no matter when you’re facing an injury, you have the convenience of finding the care that you need. Urgent care clinics feature a wider range of hours compared to doctor’s offices, for example. Most urgent care centers are open on nights, weekends, and some holidays in addition to regular business hours.

Urgent care in Lexington, KY tends to be very convenient for individuals who are facing a medical issue but are unable to see their primary care physician due to no available appointments or needing care outside of traditional business hours. 

The Staff

Emergency rooms are always staffed with a variety of healthcare professionals to attend to your emergent needs: doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses. An ER also has quick access to specialists such as cardiologists, orthopedists, or neurologists to treat and consult specific injuries. The ER also has a breadth of laboratory and imaging services to diagnose injuries.

An urgent care clinic will feature fewer staff members with healthcare professionals such as doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. You are more likely to see a physician assistant or nurse practitioner during your visit, but a doctor will be available to consult as needed. Providers at urgent care can conduct basic labs and imaging tests, such as X-rays, to help diagnose and create treatment plans.

Conclusion

Depending on the injury you’re facing, you have two viable options if you require care: urgent care in Lexington, KY or the emergency room. Now that you know the difference between the two, you can make the best decision for you the next time you or someone close to you has a major or minor injury.