Urgent care plays a unique and valuable role in the world of healthcare. Some people don’t understand the services urgent care can provide or the many benefits of choosing an urgent care for treatment. As a result, some misunderstandings have developed.
Myths About Urgent Care
There are several common misconceptions about urgent care. Let’s address some of the more common myths.
Urgent Care Can Only Treat Minor Illness
Some may think urgent care clinics can only handle minor issues like sore throats or cuts. As a result, they may assume a busy emergency room (ER) is the only option for care. The reality is quite different. Urgent care clinics are equipped to handle a wide range of illnesses and injuries. Sprains, fractures, infections, burns, asthma, and dehydration are just examples of the issues an urgent care clinic can treat.
Urgent Care Is Lower Quality Care
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Urgent care providers are fully trained and have experience treating patients of all ages for a broad range of health conditions. At Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care, our experienced providers and clinical staff provide comprehensive, evidence-based care each and every day.
Urgent Care Is Expensive
Urgent care is often more affordable than care at an ER. At Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care, we work to keep our costs down, and we accept coverage from most insurance providers.
Urgent Care Facts: What Can Urgent Care Do?
The reality is that urgent care can provide a wide range of services. Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care can provide treatment for many conditions, including:
- Cold and flu.
- Ear infections.
- Strep throat.
- Asthma.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Dehydration.
- Bladder infections.
- Cuts and bruises.
- Sprains and fractures.
We can perform a variety of diagnostic tests at urgent care, including urinalysis, flu tests, blood tests, COVID-19 tests, and throat swabs. Our onsite labs ensure rapid results. We also offer onsite X-ray and EKG capabilities, enabling our providers to get to the bottom of your medical issue and start the best treatment.
Please note: We do not perform in-house blood testing.
If bloodwork is required, samples will be sent to an external lab for analysis. Also, result times vary based on the type of test and the lab’s current processing schedule. If you have questions about timing, please consult your urgent care physician.
Urgent Care vs. ER
An ER is an appropriate choice for life-threatening conditions, including:
- Chest pain.
- Stroke.
- Extensive burns.
- Motor vehicle accidents.
- Drug overdose.
- Significant bleeding.
However, many people go to an ER for medical issues that could be treated at an urgent care. As a result, they deal with long wait times and often with more expensive medical fees.
Urgent Care vs. Primary Care
Seeing a primary care provider or family doctor regularly is important. Through regular checkups, your primary care provider can help you optimize and manage your health. Preventive medicine, which includes immunizations, health screenings, and wellness visits, is a key service provided by primary care.
However, getting in to see your primary doctor can often be difficult. Some offices are booked a month or more in advance. Urgent care is an excellent choice when you are dealing with an illness or injury and can’t wait for care. An urgent care clinic like Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care can provide many of the same services that your primary doctor can, along with the benefit of walk-in visits and extended hours.
See What Urgent Care Can Do for You
When you or a loved one are dealing with an illness or injury, visit us at Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care. We are open seven days a week for walk-in visits at each of our three convenient Louisiana locations. Experience what urgent care can do for you.
