Should I Go to Urgent Care?

Here are a few of the best benefits of utilizing an urgent care center:

1. Urgent care centers are open longer than primary care physicians generally are. They are often open on weekends. Injuries and illnesses can happen without notice. Having a doctor available later and on weekends can be a real benefit.
2. Urgent care saves you money. Being treated at an urgent care center is less expensive than being treated at the emergency room.
3. Urgent care usually provides service quicker than an ER can. In some ways, it can be faster than your primary care clinic can be. This is because urgent care centers have lab testing available on-site.
4. Urgent care centers operate on a first-come-first-served basis. Making an appointment isn’t necessary.
5. Urgent care centers can treat serious problems, as long as they aren’t life-threatening. You can have a serious cut or broken bone treated at urgent care. They can also treat a sudden illness that arises.

The most common conditions that are treated at urgent care are injuries and sudden onset of illness. These include:

• Bronchitis
• Broken bones
• Sprains
• Ear aches and infections
• Eye irritations
• Food poisoning
• Rashes and hives
• Kidney stones
• Mononucleosis
• Pneumonia
• Pediatric issues like sore throat, earache, cough, and rashes
• Poison ivy
• Sinus infections
• STDs
• Strep throat
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Urinary tract infections
• Vaginitis
• Wound repair

People go to urgent canters when their primary doctor’s office is closed. This means that evenings, weekends, and holidays can be busy times at the urgent care. Evenings and weekends are when people often participate in physical activities and become injured. Early mornings can be busy as people wait till morning if they have been suffering through the night.

If you aren’t in much of a mood to wait at the clinic, mid-day is your best choice. There are typically fewer patients seeking help at the urgent clinic.

A patient is classified as urgent when they need help NOW!

If you cut your finger, should you go to the ER? If you have chest pain, should you go to the ER? Sometimes it can be difficult to be sure what to do. Life-threatening situations like a heart attack or serious head injury will require the services of an emergency room. Injuries that aren’t life-threatening, but require attention right away can be handled at an urgent care center.

Emergencies are conditions that can permanently alter or endanger your life. Examples of this are:

• Compound fractures with bone breaking the skin
• Deep knife wounds
• Gunshot wounds
• Convulsions, seizures, or loss of consciousness
• Poisoning
• Pregnancy-related problems
• Severe abdominal pain
• Serious head, neck, or back injuries
• Severe chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Stroke symptoms
• Suicidal or homicidal ideation

Urgent medical conditions are different from emergencies. They still require attention sooner than later. Some samples of urgent conditions are:

• Accidents and falls
• Cuts that may require stitches, but aren’t bleeding profusely
• Eye irritation
• Flu or fever
• The need for X-rays or lab tests
• Minor broken bones
• Severe sore throat or cough
• Skin infections or rashes
• Sprains and strains
• Urinary tract infections
• Vomiting, dehydration, or diarrhea
• Moderate back problems

Eastside Urgent Care is available to treat these conditions and many more without an appointment. We are open from Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM on weekends. Contact us today or book a same-day priority appointment! Eastside Urgent Care is located at 872 Ohio Pike Cincinnati, OH 45245.  We serve patients from Cincinnati OH, Covedale OH, Delhi OH, St Bernard OH, Wilders KY, and Elmwood Place OH.