Facts about Urgent Care Clinics that you must know!!

Anything related to health care must be considered in priority. Surely, convenience is an important aspect to consider for getting the right treatment in the least possible time. But as the population is growing, the rate of patients visiting hospitals and healthcare centers is also increasing at a fast rate. Thus, it won't be convenient to book same-day appointments and seek quality treatment conveniently at hospitals and primary care healthcare centers. And thus the concept of urgent care clinics came into existence.    

Here are facts related to Urgent Care Clinics that help you understand the role of urgent clinics in a better manner.

These are not retail clinics - First and most important that you must know about Urgent Care Clinics is that these are not like retail stores. The basic role of these clinics is to treat uncomplicated minor illnesses and provide preventive services for problems like sore throat/Strep Throat, Sinus Infection, Cough/Fever, Sinusitis, Urinary Tract Infection, Ear Ache/Blockage, Seasonal Allergies, Asthma, Skin Condition, Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea, Joint Pain, Nasal Congestion, Pink Eye/Styes, Back Pain, Headache/Migraine, Deer Tick Bite, Allergic Reaction, Wart Treatment and many more. They focus on treating injuries or illnesses that require immediate care but should not require an emergency room (ER) visits.

Reduce unnecessary ER visits - No matter whether it is a case of urgency or emergency, people run to emergency centers if they do not have an appointment or can get it done at their primary care physician’s clinic. This thing sooner or later increases the traffic of patients to emergency rooms. Urgent care clinics mean patients no longer have to run to the ER to get the treatment for a sore throat or skin infection.

Get prescription for most medicine - The doctors and physicians can prescribe most medicines, but not for all. Doctors are able to prescribe medications like antibiotics, allergy and asthma medications, short-term pain medications, one-time maintenance medications, antiviral medications, and medications for stomach conditions. They will not be able to prescribe refills, narcotics, long-term pain medications, or anti-anxiety medications.

We hope these facts about Urgent Care Clinics have helped you understand the significance of it.

Wart: Symptoms And Treatment

Have you ever experienced an uneven growth on your skin and ignored the symptoms? This growth could be a possible outcome of a virus known as the human papillomavirus (HPV). In common terms, this disease is known as warts.

People falling into any age group can get exposed to this virus. Warts can appear as a solid blister. The shape can vary depending on the degree of inflammation. Sometimes it can appear like a tiny cauliflower, or even black dots on the skin. This is a result of blood clots in the vessels that regulate the flow of blood in the body. It is essential to visit Urgent care NYC in case you develop the symptoms of warts.

Warts is a highly contagious disease. This virus can spread easily through direct skin-to-skin contact. Warts can be treated easily, but the process might take a long time.

Categories of warts
Different categories of warts are mentioned below:


Flat Warts:

• Smaller in size and shape
• Target thighs, arms, and face
• Cannot be diagnosed easily
• Have a flat surface

Genital Warts:

• Require immediate medical diagnosis
• Target the genital area

Plantar Warts:

• Targets the sole of the feet
• Clustered growth
• Discomfort while walking

Periungual Warts:

• Interrupts nail growth
• Splits the skin
• Painful growth

Common Warts: 

• Growth on fingers and toes
• Rough bumps on the skin
• Dark spots on the skin

Causes of warts    
Warts is an outcome of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus targets the top layer of the skin and goes deep within to form blisters. People who have a weak immune system are more prone to this virus. On scratching, excess keratin is secreted which develops a hard and rough texture around the skin.

Symptoms
When the skin feels irritated and itchy, it could be because of inflammation due to HPV. You might experience skin discomfort and unbearable itching. If warts are on the fingers, then the disease can be confused with various other ailments such as cysts or arthritis.

Prevention of warts
There is no possible way of preventing warts from forming in case the skin has been exposed to HPV. However, there are certain steps that you can take to prevent it from spreading further. These include the following:

• Refrain from shaving over warts
• Avoid contact with an infected person
• Wash your hands regularly
• Refrain from biting nails 

Treatment of warts
In order to treat warts, it is crucial that you visit Urgent care clinics in NYC. The doctor will examine the degree of inflammation and prescribe proper medication. Make sure you practice proper hygiene and avoid contact with an infected person as this disease is highly contagious.

An insight into Walk In Clinic and how they are beneficial to our society?

An emergency or illness can  occur at any time. And perhaps your primary care physician is currently not available and you can only get an appointment for the next week. Of course, you cannot wait that long. This is where an urgent care clinic comes into the picture. At urgent care clinic, you can walk in and see a physician right away without prior appointment. It is the best suitable place where you can get a wide variety of ailments and illnesses treatment. Many would be surprised to know that these urgent care centers have extended hours and many are open for all seven days a week. This is why, it turns out to be an excellent option when you have an illness or injury that doesn't fall within the usual eight-hour work day or one that can’t wait for another week. 

What all treatments urgent care centers deal with? 

Checking out the list of illnesses or injuries urgent care centers treat include fall and sprain, fracture, seasonal flu and many more issues. For those who are above the age of 60 and facing issues like dizziness or loss of balance then, nearby urgent care can be a good place to turn to if your primary care physician is not available. 

You can also visit urgent care for something as simple as flu, vomiting or diarrhea, or as common as strep throat, bronchitis, cold sores, pink eye, or an ear infection. Moreover, there are few centers that offer vaccines, physicals, X-rays, and STD or HIV testing, depending on their resources based on local availability.  

Where else you can find use of urgent care? 

Emergency rooms are for people who are in an emergency situation and want immediate care, for example somebody met with an accident or someone who had a heart attack. Urgent care clinics are for urgency situations. In case you are in an urgent situation, do not go to emergency care instead go to urgent care. An urgent care clinic is well-recognized to help patients with medical problems that are serious but not life-threatening. So as long as your condition is not life-threatening, you can certainly visit an urgent care clinic and get the right treatment. 

When Should I See Emergency Care? 

For life-threatening conditions, you should head straight to the emergency rooms and you need to take care that urgent care should not be substituted for emergency care. 

Walk In Clinic of NYC offers prompt, affordable, same-day appointments at our convenient midtown Manhattan urgent care medical office. Our walk in clinic in NYC provides convenient, fast care for injuries and illnesses that are serious but not life-threatening. 

Everything You Need To Know About Abscess Drainage and Incisions

At some point of time, everybody has experienced the development of a red bumps on some of their body. These bumps might get filled with pus and cause serious infections. It is  best if the abscesses are drained to curb the spread of infections. You can visit urgent care clinics in order to get the abscess injected and drained. 

What exactly does an abscess mean? 

An abscess can be defined as a tender skin mass that is surrounded by a tissue wall. It is generally filled with pus. Abscesses get developed when the body tries to control the infection and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body. The lump of pus can pose discomfort and can also be very painful to touch. 

The abscess can be pink or red in color. A majority of abscesses are caused due to infection but can be easily cured with the help of the incision and drainage method. The most common areas that the abscess can build up is around the tooth, armpits, anus, and any other part of the body. Abscesses that are a result of the inflammation of hair follicles are known as boils. You can visit a walk in clinic in order to get the abscess cured. 

What is the cause of the development of an abscess? 

The skin has many layers. When these layers get infected, the normally functioning skin barrier might get ruptured. This can be because of minor trauma or cuts and tears. Through these cuts, bacteria can seep into the skin and cause abscesses. The body reacts to this and develops an abscess. In the process, the body tries to kill the germs or bacterial infection. There are various other reasons behind the development of abscesses. Such as inflamed hair follicles or a cyst in the skin.  

What are the symptoms of abscess?

An abscess, most commonly, gets converted into a painful mass of pus. It is often red or pink in color. Abscesses can be very painful to touch. Some of the symptoms of abscesses are mentioned below:

• Abscesses can be popped if they are minor. You can clench the abscess and see the pus ooze out. 
• If left unattended, the abscess can worsen over time and cause more problems. 
• In case the abscess spread into the deeper skin layers, an individual might develop mild fever which can be treated by a doctor. 

On visiting a Walk In Clinic, the doctor will make an incision in the abscess and drain out the pus. This will reduce the pain and swelling. If the abscess is larger in size, the doctor at the urgent care clinics will prescribe some over the counter medicines.

Cholesterol screening test: Things you need to know!

Gone are those days when you had to wait for hours to get your injured arm treated or get your screening tests done. But, today, you don’t need to get a prior appointment from the doctor or wait in the long queue for non-life-threatening conditions. All thanks to a walk-in clinic!

Apart from this, visiting an emergency room is more expensive than an urgent care center. This is why, if your health condition is non-life-threatening, it’s advisable to choose an urgent care clinic over an emergency room and primary healthcare center. And most walk-in clinics also have screening tests facility. So, if you’re considering getting cholesterol screen tests, choose an urgent care clinic.

However, before you dive into the cholesterol screening test procedure, it is important to know everything about it. This includes how to prepare yourself for the test, whether you are the right candidate for it or not, and what to expect before, during and after the test.

When is the right time to have a cholesterol test?

People of age 20 or above can get a cholesterol test done every five years. However, the following are the people who need a cholesterol test more often, including:

• A woman above 50.
  
• A man above 45.
  
• If someone has cholesterol more than 200.
  
• A person with low HDL, which means the “good” cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dL for males or less than 50 m/dL for females.
  
• People who are obese or have high blood pressure or any other condition have a higher risk of high cholesterol.
  

How to prepare for a cholesterol test?

Yes, you need to prepare yourself for a cholesterol test. To do this, you shouldn’t eat and drink anything at least nine hours before the screening test. And avoid taking medication until your doctor asks you. In case, you eat medicines before your screening test, it may affect the results.

Which is the right place to have a cholesterol test?

As recommended by the American Heart Association, it is better to have the screening test at your doctor’s office. However, you can also get your test done at a diagnostic center or at a hospital. By choosing your doctor’s office for the cholesterol test, you’ll have the peace of mind by knowing:

• The test is performed by an experienced and qualified person.
  
• The resulting reports are accurate.
  
• The follow-up care after the test is personalized depending on your needs.
  

Hopefully, now you know whether you’re the right candidate for the screening test or not. And if you’re eligible to have a cholesterol screening test, you know how to prepare yourself and where to go. Want to have a cholesterol screening test? Contact the best urgent care clinic in your area.

Top challenges faced by the urgent care clinics

Do you know urgent care clinics are like the Starbucks of the healthcare industry? That means, today, there are plenty of centers in the United States helping patients with urgent medical care. While various exciting things are happening in the urgent care world, these healthcare facilities still face challenges.

Let’s have a look at some of these challenges faced by the urgent care clinics in NYC.

Why choose urgent care clinics?

One of the major challenges is when people asked why Visit urgent care clinics or walk in clinics, as we have primary care physicians to treat common healthcare problems. Well, urgent care clinics are designed to meet an important niche in terms of accessibility, availability and cost. For example, if you get cold and your primary care physician is too busy to take an appointment, you can switch to urgent care clinic. Remember, these healthcare facilities can’t replace primary care physicians, as they are well-familiar with the patient’s history.

Do urgent care centers offer the same services as emergency rooms?

Well, the most common reasons why people visit urgent care centers are pediatric and orthopedic issues. When it comes to emergency room doctors or primary care physicians, they are not trained in treating subtle orthopedic or pediatric problems. In fact, according to the University of Maryland School of Medicine Study conducted in 2014, 90% of pediatric issues are not treated correctly in Emergency rooms and urgent care centers. As a result, these problems can cause further problems such as skin issues, joint dysfunction and poor pain reduction.

For example, if some with fracture visits urgent care clinic, the physician may give ibuprofen to reduce the pain and ask to rest. When in reality, the person needs an X-ray. Hence, urgent care clinics are not reliable for treating fractures, and if you go, the actual treatment may get delayed.

Have you noticed the rise in the use of urgent care clinics?

Nearly 10 to 15 years ago, urgent care clinics were a new in the medical field, and people were doubtful about them. But today, things have changed, people have started noticing the potentials of urgent care centers. And urgent care clinics are getting patients with problems that need urgent medical care. On the other hand, if someone is suffering from chest pain and go to an urgent care clinic, they won’t get a thrombolytic therapy to diagnose a heart attack or stroke.

These are some of the challenges that urgent care clinics face. However, the future holds many promises.

Which Benefits Of Urgent Care Make Them A Popular Option?

When someone gets sick, they look for hassle free (not waiting in long queues for the right medical assistance) medical treatment. This is to ensure that the illness can be diagnosed quickly and appropriate measures can be taken on time to prevent it. We often usually visit our primary healthcare physician to get the right medical assistance. However, there are times when you primary physician is not available or you are unable to get a quick appointment. This is where urgent care clinics come into the picture.

Here are a few points that explains why urgent care clinics are a right option when looking for immediate medical attention.

Meeting public demand: No one wishes to wait in long queue for doctor’s appointment when their loved one needs immediate attention. I mean you can understand, the explosion in population will lay its impact everywhere. So, if you are running out of time then urgent care clinic is your safest bet. In urgent care clinic, you can easily get the required medical care on a walk-in appointment. Unless its an emergency or you have to be referred to an emergency room, you can completely rely on urgent care clinics. But remember, urgent care clinics works on private elements such as ground-floor locations and the ability to schedule same-day appointments using an online calendar program.

Moreover, if you are not quite sure about health care facilities where your test can be done or specialist whom you can get in touch for medical care, then walk in clinic’s professionals can suggest you the best.

Reducing healthcare costs: Another advantage of urgent care clinics that make it a preferred option for many people is its reduced healthcare costs. These clinics are comparatively more affordable than emergency departments and sometimes primary physicians. Now, due to walk in clinic, you don’t need to visit emergency healthcare centers, especially at a time when you are not experiencing a life-threatening medical condition. Believe it, this will be going to save you tons of money. The cost of an urgent care clinic visit is almost similar to a primary care physician.

According to a report of 2015, the average price per patient was $2,259 and $2,199 at a freestanding emergency care clinic. Whereas, searcher concluded that its only $168 that patients need to spend at urgent care clinics.

Faster, easier, cheaper: In context to the above points, the urgent cares are quite beneficial for aging patients as well as for people living in rural areas. The percentage of healthcare insurance claim has seen a significant growth with increase in urgent healthcare facilities.

These are the few benefits of urgent care clinics that make it a preferred option by many patients in the US.