How Urgent Care Clinics Have Changed The Phase Of Medical Field?

Urgent care clinics are ever emerging healthcare and wellness specialty centers. These centers not only meet the patient needs for convenience and healthcare services but also reroute the care needs. With the long waits at the emergency room and busy appointment schedules of primary care physicians, urgent care has become one of the fastest growing segments in healthcare. Hence, it has created more opportunities for nurses who’re looking for alternatives to conventional clinical roles. 

What do urgent care clinics offer?

When it comes to urgent care clinics, they offer urgent medical care for a number of non-life-threatening, yet urgent health conditions. These clinics consider every single detail; hence, nurses who want to work there must possess excellent problem-solving skills, strong assessment skills, adaptability, and IV start and phlebotomy skills. And they should be able to develop a comfort level with every patient regardless of the age.

Healthcare professionals that work in Urgent care clinics

Usually, nurses work under the direct supervision of a physician assistant or nurse practitioner in urgent care center. This is because medical doctors handle other complex health conditions. Yes, there are some similarities for nurses to work in a hospital and urgent care clinic but with no interruptions from the ancillary services.

 

Most urgent care clinics are equipped with an in-house testing facility, and the nurse is required to obtain and prepare specimen samples for testing. And some centers may even have an on-site radiology suite. If urgent care clinics get more complex cases, they are immediately referred to the emergency department or to specialists.

Where can you find urgent care clinic?

Well, an urgent care clinic can either be freestanding or can be found in an affiliated hospital. One of the major advantages of working in an urgent care clinic is that the working hours are more predictable as compared to emergency department. And the likelihood of burnout is comparatively lower.