The dilemma of choosing between your primary care physician and seeking care from an urgent care center can be quite bothersome.
The quality and level of care provided at both facilities are similar, so why choose one over the other?
Primary care physician visits can be quite tedious. You have to book the appointment, clear out your schedule, and go through the whole ordeal, which can be very time-consuming. What if you are running short on time? Is urgent care a good substitute for the job?
For this reason, it is essential to understand the differences between both services, which one you should opt for, and, most importantly, when you should go to them. To find out how much urgent care costs without insurance, visit this page.
Let’s start with fundamental differences.
Primary care versus urgent care: The purpose
- Primary care
Your primary care physician plays an integral role in your long-term health. They are well informed about your medical history. They are responsible for managing your regular health checkups, especially if you are someone battling a chronic ailment such as hypertension, diabetes, etc.
Your primary care doctor can make educated decisions about the kind of care you require. In case of additional help, he or she may further connect you to specialists who can best cater to your individual needs.
Primary care clinics operate on a strict shift basis. They offer basic consulting and diagnostic services as well as carry out minor interventions.
- Urgent care
Urgent care clinics are often confused with emergency care. In reality, however, urgent care clinics bridge the gap between primary care and emergency care. They are designed to cater to urgent medical conditions; however, they do not attend to potentially life-threatening conditions.
When it comes to life-threatening conditions, hospital emergency rooms are the best suited to tackle the situation.
Urgent care providers come to the rescue when your primary care doctor is unavailable, or the condition cannot wait for an appointment and requires immediate attention.
Unlike primary care, urgent care is generally a one-time experience. The staff there does not know your detailed medical history, and thus the facility is not ideal for regular visits regarding chronic conditions.
For example: In Irving, Urgent care clinics are open for longer hours and do not require you to book an appointment beforehand. They are much more affordable as compared to an ER, and many accept insurance coverage as well. Note that this isn’t confined to Irving only, In other cities, Urgent cares are opened for prolonged time period.
Let’s move on to the type of medical conditions handled by both healthcare providers.
Primary care versus urgent care: The services
When it comes to services, urgent care and primary care basically offer similar services. Urgent clinics are just faster, do not require an appointment, and available past regular working hours.
You may head to an urgent care center if you:
- Are not feeling well
- Need stitches or immunization shots
- Get your prescription renewed
- Need diagnostic lab tests or x-rays done
Circumstances in which you should opt for your primary care physician over an urgent care provider include:
- Managing long-term medications
- Supporting chronic illness and pain
- Maintaining complete medical records
- Having a steady healthcare provider for you and your family
Next, come the costs, a critical factor to consider when exploring healthcare options.
Primary care versus urgent care: The costs
Primary care visits accept insurance and thus are quite affordable.
Urgent care in the US averages between $100 and $150 per visit, which is relatively affordable compared to the core cost of primary care. Many urgent care centers, however, also accept insurance, so it is quite reasonable on the pocket as well.
Emergency room costs are much more expensive, however.
Choosing between the two: Who to pick?
If you need to attend to a matter that requires the doctor to be well-informed of your medical history and helps your health in the long-term, book an appointment with your primary care physician.
If the issue is affecting your short-term health and is one that is severe enough to require immediate attention but not head to the ER, we recommend heading to an urgent care center.
- Parting thoughts
Choosing between urgent and primary care all depends on the need of the hour. If the matter can wait, does not require immediate attending to, and if you are someone with a complex medical history, we recommend heading to your primary care provider since they would know how to proceed with your case in the best way possible.
If the matter at hand cannot wait for a regular doctor’s appointment, is serious, and poses a minimal risk in terms of medical history and complications, urgent care is a lifesaver.
You must evaluate your condition before you decide where to head. While the quality of service and expertise provided by both urgent and primary is relatively the same, it is important not to substitute urgent care with primary care.
Evie harrison is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences and express herself through her blogs. Find her on Twitter:@iamevieharrison
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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