When Should You Choose an Urgent Care Clinic Instead of an Emergency Room in Golden Gate, FL?

According to several recent studies, the reasons for more than half of all emergency room visits could be safely handled by an urgent care clinic like First Care in the Golden Gate, FL, area. Think that sounds like a lot? It is. And, in terms of both lost time and money, the cost to patients is high.

This could be happening for a variety of reasons. From the time they are very young, most people are told repeatedly – to the point that it becomes etched into their minds – that if they have an unexpected medical need, they should immediately call 9-1-1 or proceed directly to a hospital ER. This advice is unquestionably sound for dealing with life-threatening events, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and severe bleeding. However, many people automatically adhere to it without considering whether or not the situation at hand truly qualifies as an emergency. For those who are facing non-emergency illnesses and injuries that require immediate medical attention in the Golden Gate, Florida, area, the First Care urgent care clinic is available as a convenient and affordable alternative to an ER.

Both an emergency room and an urgent care clinic serve a distinct and important role within the healthcare system. Rather than functioning as competitors, they can effectively complement each other when utilized properly by patients. If you’re wondering when it would it be a good idea to go to an urgent care clinic instead of an ER, here are a few examples of common scenarios in which visiting an urgent care clinic would be appropriate:

• Your daughter comes home from softball practice with a black eye. She shrugs it off, telling you that she was hit by a ball and feels fine. You know that most injuries of this type are superficial, but you’d still prefer to have it checked out by a physician right away, just to be sure.
• Your husband is home from work with a fever, runny nose, and sore throat. He has an important presentation coming up in a few days, so he needs to feel better fast. When you call your regular physician to schedule an appointment, you find out that your husband can’t be seen until sometime the following week.
• You attempt to give your cat – who is not fond of water – a bath. After she instinctively fights you in an attempt to get away, you end up with some scratches and bites.

In situations like these, consider visiting First Care near Golden Gate, FL. Walk-in patients are always welcome at our urgent care clinic. Or, if you’d prefer, you can call ahead or schedule an appointment online. With convenient parking nearby, a welcoming reception area, minimal wait times, and a caring professional staff, we strive to provide a completely streamlined patient experience.