29 Jun What Conditions are Treated at Urgent Care Centers in San Diego?
There are around 9,300 urgent care centers in the United States. These clinics treat a variety of non-emergency conditions, illnesses, and injuries. Urgent care is not appropriate for people with life-threatening conditions, however.
Statistics regarding Urgent Care
Urgent care is expected to increase by nearly 6% each year through 2018. In the U.S., there are around 9,000 urgent care facilities, and each year, these centers provide care to around
160 million people. In 2013, there were 5,025 emergency rooms in the U.S., and they treated 136 million people.
Need for Urgent Care
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is an increasing demand for urgent care centers. In 2007, only 16.4% of patients seen in the emergency department were kept for observation or admitted to the hospital. In addition, 62% were referred to their primary care provider or a specialist for a follow-up.
Injuries Treated at Urgent Care
Individuals come into urgent care facilities because they have experienced trauma or have a recent injury. Usually, the trauma or injury is not of a chronic nature. Common injuries treated at urgent care clinics are:
- Fractures
- Cuts and lacerations
- Whiplash
- Sprains and strains of the knee, ankle, elbow, or shoulder
- Minor burns
- Injuries related to falls
- Injuries related to car accidents
Illnesses Treated at Urgent Care
In addition to trauma and injuries, people go to urgent care facilities for illness treatment. Illnesses treated at urgent care clinics are not life-threatening, and can be easily remedied with medications or procedures. Common illnesses treated at an urgent care center include:
Pink eye- Mononucleosis
- Urinary tract infection
- Sinus infection
- Respiratory infection
- Ear infection
- Cold
- Flu
- Strep throat
- Gastroenteritis
- Diverticulitis
- Dehydration
- Head lice
- Burns
- Swimmer’s ear
- Seasonal allergies
- Rashes
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
Symptoms Treated at Urgent Care
Symptoms are indications of an underlying condition or injury. In the case of urgent care, the following symptoms are often seen:
- Swollen glands
- Fever
- Ear ache
- Neck pain
- Joint pain
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Back pain
- Difficulty urinating
- Wheezing
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Swelling
Procedures Performed at Urgent Care
The following office procedures can be performed by the physician or physician assistant at our San Diego urgent care clinic:
- Adult vaccination
- Casting a fracture
- Minor burn care
- Wound care
- Pregnancy testing
- Laboratory services
- X-rays
- Electrocardiogram
- Tick removal
- Suture or staple removal
- Ear wax removal
- Incision and drainage of cyst
- Physicals for sports, work, and drivers
- Simple foreign body removal
What is NOT Treated at San Diego Urgent Care
The urgent care center will not treat emergency situations or life-threatening conditions. These include:
- Overdoses
- Seizures
- Severe abdominal pain
- Chest pain
- Deep cuts of serious bleeding
- Coughing up blood
- Vomiting up blood
- Stroke (numbness or weakness of arm, leg, and/or face)
- Loss of consciousness
- Fractures where bone is showing
- Severe burns
- Sudden severe shortness of breath
- Severe, debilitating headache
When to Go to Urgent Care
It is important for you to understand when you should visit an urgent care clinic and when to go to the emergency department. Urgent care facilities are not appropriate for life-threatening injuries or illnesses. In addition, if you are under the care of a primary care physician or practitioner, you should not use an urgent care clinic for routine healthcare or medication refills. Urgent care centers are normally not designed to treat chronic conditions routinely, and the provider prefer you stick with your family practitioner for those situations.
At Pacific Medical Care, we also provide routine medical care for chronic conditions with Board Certified physicians. Call us today!
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