Most people opt for emergency services when they think they need medical attention. This idea is not bad, but it can turn out to be expensive. For instance, going to the emergency room for a new diagnosis of heart failure costs more than what urgent care would bill. Suppose patients turn to a combination facility for treatment. In that case, they will find help managing everything from simple health care treatment to issues such as prescribed treatment and advanced diagnostic and laboratory services.
Passing certain cases off to urgent care is an excellent idea since it gives doctors much-needed time to treat severe emergencies and helps the facility run smoothly. Combination emergency rooms and urgent care facilities have a lot to offer. Using a model that provides emergency and critical care makes serving patients easier, saves them money, and allows them to be referred to other services quickly and without any problems.
Urgent care facilities are typically required to be managed by a physician licensed to practice in the United States, and accordingly, around 50% of clinics are operated by doctors. However, many urgent care centers are designed for patient convenience. Many urgent care centers are open 24 hours a day, have an average waiting time of 20 minutes or less, and take less than an hour to complete a visit. Moreover, the typical urgent care visit is 40 to 50% less expensive than a trip to an emergency room in the United States.
When seeking help, many folks head to an urgent care or the emergency room. What if they didn’t have to choose? What benefits would be available to them? Here are a few benefits associated with this combination model.
This Serves a Dual Purpose
Providing an ER and urgent care under one roof makes everything easier for folks, regardless of their diagnoses. They can head to advanced diagnostic and laboratory services if their doctor requests it. If they go in for a simple problem that turns out to be serious, they don’t need to drive to the emergency care. Instead, the whole issue is handled in the same building. This cuts down on wait times and makes things easier for everyone. Combination urgent care and emergency centers are helpful since rural hospitals have been shutting down at a steady rate since 2013.
Folks Save Money When Offered the Option
Many people turn to emergency services when they think they have no other option. This is not a bad thing, but it can run up their bill quickly. For example, going to the emergency room for flu treatment costs more, versus what urgent care would bill. The average urgent care bill is around $100, versus an emergency treatment for comparable service, which is $300. If folks are able to turn to a combination facility, they will find help that manages everything from difficulty breathing to advanced diagnostic and laboratory services.
Many of the Services Used in the Emergency Room Could be Treated in Urgent Care
Often similar services are performed in both centers. But over 50% of all treatments that take place in the emergency room could be outsourced to urgent care. Having the option to pass certain cases off to urgent care is better, offering doctors the chance to treat severe emergencies. This saves doctors and patients alike time and helps the facility run smoothly.
Combination ER and urgent care facilities have a lot to offer folks. Using a model that offers both emergency and urgent care makes serving patients easier, saves them money, and allows them to refer them to other services quickly and without any problems.
