Reasons to Seek Urgent Care Visit Q&A

One of the most common reasons that people will need to visit an urgent care clinic is for treatment of upper respiratory infections, such as a cold or flu, often just requiring management of the symptoms to increase comfort until the infection is resolved. Other common reasons patients will visit an urgent care clinic include other types of infections that may require antibiotics or other prescription medications such as rashes, ear or eye infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Urgent care clinics are able to provide fast, high-quality medical care for conditions that heavily benefit from starting treatment as soon as possible, such as the previously mentioned infections, or other minor injuries that may be causing significant discomfort.

Urgent health conditions include anything that requires care that is more urgent than primary care (i.e. can’t be scheduled in advance, is causing discomfort or pain, and requires attention within the next 12 to 24 hours for the patient’s comfort and safety) but is not so severe that it requires emergency medical care. Emergency medical services are required to treat conditions that are life- or limb-threatening and may require surgical procedures for treatment, which is typically beyond the capabilities of an urgent care center.

Urgent health issues will require prompt, unplanned care and will typically be best treated by clinics that offer walk-in first-come, first-served appointments, with many clinics offering virtual waiting rooms to allow patients to have their spot on the waiting list reserved while waiting in the comfort of their own home, or the capabilities to schedule same-day appointments. Urgent health issues will not actively be a risk to the patient’s life or long-term health, but can often lead to uncomfortable or painful symptoms that prevent them from being able to continue participating in their normal daily activities.

Most urgent health care centers are able to treat all minor infections, injuries, and illnesses, with some variance in more specialized treatment depending on the capacity of the clinic and the particular expertise of the available physicians who work at the clinic. The vast majority of urgent care clinics can provide fast, high-quality care for the following minor health conditions:


• Minor cuts, bruises, burns, sprains, strains, and fractures
• Minor infections (eye, ear, UTIs, STIs, skin, etc.)
• Cold and flu symptoms
• Minor allergic reactions and asthma
• Animal and insect bites
• Dehydration, heat stroke
• Food poisoning

It is also common for urgent care clinics to offer primary care services as well, offering immunizations, laboratory services for accurate diagnoses, physical examinations, specialized pediatric or geriatric care, drug screening, and workers’ compensation physicals. These primary care services will often be provided on a walk-in basis or can be scheduled in advance, providing a wide range of essential healthcare to those who may not otherwise have sufficient access.

While it is an option for many people to visit their primary care physician to receive treatment for minor illnesses, it is very common for patients to face some scheduling difficulties when trying to see their primary care physician for unplanned or unscheduled treatments, such as for minor injuries or illnesses, as most primary care physicians simply do not have the capacity and availability to take on additional appointments throughout an already fully booked day.

Many primary care physicians also have somewhat limited office hours, making it difficult for patients who are not able to take time off of work or school to make it to the office while it is open. Urgent care clinics welcome walk-in, unscheduled, unplanned visits from patients who require care for minor illnesses and injuries while offering longer or more flexible office hours to ensure that all patients have access to the quality medical care that they require. For more information, contact us or book a same-day priority appointment. We are conveniently 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.