Every day, countless Americans will suffer injuries, wounds, or illnesses that call for professional medical attention at once. When a victim is hurt or in need, a responsible party can look up local emergency care centers, urgent care centers, and more online. They may specify their area and ZIP code during the search to keep the results local, and if the patient needs help at an odd time of day, the phrase “24 hr” can be included in the online query. In this way, a seeker can find the name, address, and hours of operation of a nearby medical site. Urgent care clinics are for patients with minor health issues, while 24 hour emergency care is vital for someone in life threatening condition.
Most medical clinics have adult patients in mind, but pediatric doctors and physicians can handle any patient younger than 18. Parents can look up “pediatric emergency care near me,” for example, if their child has suffered a broken bone. Or, they might look for pediatric emergency care if their toddler or baby suddenly cannot breathe, or is convulsing. Also, note that some medical clinics today are a hybrid model, offering both urgent and emergency care services. This is helpful whenever it’s not clear what level of care a patient needs.
Emergency Care Done Right
Emergency care, such as a standalone emergency clinic or a hospital’s ER, is meant for patients with serious injuries or conditions, and the doctors and physicians on staff will have the medicine and training necessary to save a life. A patient may need this level of care, for example, if they have suffered a broken arm or leg, or if they have difficulty breathing or chest pain. Such conditions can turn life threatening at any moment. Head or eyeball injuries also call for emergency care, and the same is true of bullet wounds or stab wounds that are bleeding heavily. Serious abdominal pain also calls for the ER, since the underlying cause may be the likes of cancer or internal bleeding, among others.
But what about pediatric emergency care? Most hospitals will have a pediatric ward, where specialized doctors can save the life of a baby, toddler, or a child. Pediatricians are experts in the anatomy and needs of young patients, and they know what sort of issues often affect youngsters. Such pediatric emergency care will be necessary if a child has suffered broken bones, a head wound, difficulty breathing or chest pain, seizures, and more. Emergency centers may or may not have pediatricians on hand, so concerned parents should specify that they need pediatric care for their child when they conduct an online search, just to be sure.
Urgent Care
If emergency care is for serious and life threatening cases, then urgent care can take care of the rest. Urgent care is a major business today, and over 2,500 or more urgent care centers can be found across the United States today. Typically, these are small and independent clinics that are staffed with nurse practitioners and physicians who have the training and medicine on hand to treat minor medical afflictions. Many urgent care centers and walk in clinic are built into strip malls, and some are found in major retailer and grocery stores (retail clinics). Some are found in hospitals, and offer distinct care from the hospital itself.
A patient may visit these clinics for medicinal relief from the cold or flu during influenza season, and they can also visit the pharmacy in that clinic for a prescription drug refill. Four in five such clinics can treat bone fractures, and nearly all clinic will also treat sprained wrists or ankles. The staff can also provide bandages and stitches for shallow cuts, as well as lotion and ointment for sunburn and skin rash cases. Upper respiratory issues are another common reason to visit walk in clinics.
Parents can also bring their child to a pediatric urgent care center, for routine checkups and to get proper shots and vaccination for their child (this is very important). If a child is ill, pediatricians will be able to diagnose the issue, and they are familiar with many illnesses that affect babies and children. Children often get colds, and they are also liable to get ear infections.
