Urgent Care-Walk In Clinic Recommendations are Invaluable

Word of mouth recommendations are invaluable when selecting an urgent care-walk in clinic. It's helpful to know how long the wait usually is, how well the doctor communicates with his patients, the quality of care, any amenities the clinic may offer, etc. Check out some comments users have submitted about Urgent Care-Walk in Clinics they have visited:

I would only go there if there are no other options such as a Sunday. The doctor did not seem like he was knowledgeable about an ear infection and I ended up having to see my family physician after because his treatment was not effective.

Very short wait. They have an onsite pharmacy which was very convenient.

I prefer using this clinic more so than going to a regular practitioner. I can get in and out in a matter of minutes rather than hours. Whenever I hear of anyone with minor health issues, I always direct them to the River.

To check out more comments, and to view urgent care-walk in clinics in your area, visit our free Urgent Care-Walk in Clinic Search tool.

Have you been to an Urgent Care-Walk in clinic lately? Please share your experience by completing a Urgent Care-Walk In Clinic Review. Reviews only take two to three minutes to complete. Your review will help others make their healthcare decisions. And it will also provide the clinic with information on how to improve their practice.

*WhereToFindCare.com makes no claims regarding the accuracy of these statements and is not affiliated with any of the parties involved. When choosing a healthcare provider, we advise you to take multiple factors into consideration, including but not limited to quality, satisfaction and ratings data.

Check out Urgent Care Centers

Have you ever:

1. Fallen down stairs?
2. Burned or cut yourself while cooking?
3. Come down with the flu or a bad cold?
4. Fallen on ice?

I've done all the above. Most happening either after my doctor's office had closed or during days the office was booked solid. I used to turn to the local emergency room (ER) for medical assistance. While I found the ER to be very helpful, there was always a long wait to see a doctor. The reason for the long wait was that the ER doctors needed to tend to life threatening situations first. Since the conditions above are usually not life threatening, I was always low priority. And unfortunately, when you're in pain or feeling miserable, waiting can be very difficult.

There is an alternative: Urgent Care Clinics. Urgent Care Clinics provide medical care to patients with non-life threatening illness or injuries who need immediate attention but may not require a trip to the emergency room. These clinics are often open after hours, 7 days a week, no appointment necessary.

To locate an urgent care near you, use our free Urgent Care-Walk in Clinic Search tool. Most Urgent Care Centers are open after hours, but may be not open 24 hours. Be sure to call the urgent care before you visit to check their hours of operation.

No Health Insurance? A Tip to Control Health Care Costs

Keeping the cost of health care down when you're uninsured or under-insured is not easy. But learning from one common mistake and a few tips can help you avoid big costs down the road.

Avoid the Emergency Room! This is an extremely expensive place to seek treatment and should only be used when absolutely necessary - like in an "emergency." We often hear about people making the mistake of using the ER as their source of primary care. Others put off basic medical care until their condition becomes serious enough for the ER. This is dangerous, both financially and physically. In many cases it is cheaper to take your medications or have regular doctor visits than it is to go to the ER and be subsequently admitted to the hospital for treatment of a neglected chronic condition. This is the type of thing that gets people into serious financial trouble, like bankruptcy.

Instead, here are some things you can do to avoid a preventable trip the the ER:

1. Use an urgent care or walk-in clinic instead. These places may be more suited to your needs (as long as they are not life-threatening) and are much cheaper. Find an urgent care or walk-in clinic near you.

2. Take your meds. If you can't afford them, many drug companies, free clinics, pharmacies and other community organizations have programs to pay for or subsidize the cost of medications for people in need. A good place to start your research is www.needymeds.org. Also, talk to your doctor. He or she may know of more programs to help.

3. Don't skimp on your primary care, especially if you have a chronic condition that needs to be monitored. If you can no longer afford your doctor, don't be afraid to talk to him/her or to compare prices of other offices. Ask to pay the same as your insurance company used to pay. If that doesn't work, you may want to show them lower pricing of other local physicians. If your doctor refuses to work with you, start looking for another one who will.

If all else fails or you are still unable to afford discounted rates you negotiate with your doctor, find a free clinic in your area. You may qualify for free or reduced fee services. Call the clinic directly to first to see if you qualify and whether they offer the services you require.

Do you have any other tips to avoid the ER or to control health care costs? We'd love to hear them. Share them with others by commenting on this post.

WhereToFindCare.com