The only thing worse than having a medical emergency is having a medical emergency when your doctor’s office is closed! It seems like it never fails – emergency medical situations always seem to occur on the weekends or late at night when it’s impossible to see your regular doctor. An emergency clinic is designed to be open and ready to help you when you need it most. These clinics are found in virtually every city across the country. They are often open on the weekends, late into the night, and are sometimes even available 24 hours a day. Often an appointment is not even required, which makes them all the more appealing. The availability of these clinics is perhaps their greatest asset.
The services provided at an emergency clinic will vary, but most offer comprehensive care that includes the diagnosing of common illnesses, stitches, x-rays, and blood work. The doctors and nurses that work at these clinics are often specially trained to deal with all types of injuries and ailments. One of the major advantages to an emergency clinic is that it is often less expensive than visiting an actual emergency room at the hospital.
Most insurance companies will charge a higher co-pay for an emergency room visit than for an urgent care facility visit, and the services that are administered at the clinic often cost much less than the same services or procedures done at the emergency room. Also, the wait time at an emergency room is typically much longer than at an urgent care clinic. Some of the emergency clinics will actually take appointments or will put you on a waiting list to be seen before you even arrive at the facility.
Some emergency clinics, such as the Midwest Express Clinic in Willowbrook, Illinois even provide more conventional medical care such as physicals and immunizations. These services can be especially helpful for people who have a demanding work schedule and need to be seen by a doctor after the traditional 5:00 work day is over. So they next time you find yourself with an illness or an injury on the weekend, don’t wait until Monday morning to get an appointment with your doctor! Your local emergency clinic is open and ready to serve you when you need them the most!
