In the event of an injury or illness, many people immediately think of booking an appointment with their primary care physician. However, accidents happen and usually require immediate medical attention and treatment. Depending on the extent of the situation, the best call for immediate care is to visit an urgent care center or emergency room.
Many people have a hard time choosing between urgent care and the ER. Urgent care is typically faster, less expensive and offers the same quality of treatment for non-lethal injuries as emergency rooms. Although urgent cares are the better option in some cases, people are confused about whether they can receive adequate treatment for their injury.
Urgent care centers have medical professionals that are qualified to treat any kind of less-severe injury or illness, but there are common accidents that they handle more frequently than others.
A bone fracture is a regular sports-related accident. Some fractures are severe and demand emergency treatment, while others can be steadied and set correctly by an orthopedist afterward. The signs of fractured bones are inflammation, swelling, bruising and inability to put pressure on the area or use it normally.
Urgent care can handle minor fractures and can prove immensely beneficial when the accident happens and a doctor’s appointment is not feasible. Urgent care clinics can conduct x-ray scans and tests to know the extent of the fracture before treatment.
Typically, surface cuts are injuries that do not reveal the bone or muscles. Lacerations can be more severe because they are deep cuts that could ultimately result in nerve damage and other problems. The most apparent signs of cuts or lacerations are bleeding, an alarming break or space in the skin and discomfort around the injury.
Urgent care centers can treat both cuts and lacerations. If the injury is deep, bleeding profusely, has a foreign material trapped in it or you experience difficulty moving or using the affected part, then you should get immediate medical attention. Medical experts in walk-in practices can close up the wound and stop the bleeding, saving you from having to wait in long queues at the ER.
A sprain is an accidental tear or stretching of a ligament. The ligament helps to hold and support the joints. A sprain is a common sports accident that happens due to direct or indirect force that affects the joint. The parts of the body more prone to sprains are the ankles, wrists and knees since we tend to use the hands, legs and feet more often.
A sprain is usually accompanied by pain, redness, swelling, bruising and inflammation. You can treat most cases of sprains using ice packs, elevation or compression. However, to ensure the injury heals properly, especially in moderate to severe cases, a visit to the urgent care center is necessary.
If the accident is not life-threatening, you can save money, long waiting times and energy by visiting urgent care centers instead of emergency rooms or primary care centers. Walk-in offices ensure easy access to quality, convenient and professional medical care.
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