Every year in the United States, there are an estimated 160 million visits to urgent care centers across the country. While Urgent Cares are a relatively new addition to the healthcare industry, they are spreading rapidly. This increase has proven helpful to emergency rooms and doctor’s offices, who often face an overwhelming volume of patients. Not only this, but they also offer a number of benefits to patients themselves.
Which Physical Injuries can be handled at an Urgent Care?
Urgent care centers provide a variety of services for medical conditions that require immediate care that are not life threatening, like strep throat, upper respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal problems. However, on top of treating a variety of illnesses, Urgent Cares can also treat different types of injuries, medical problems for which individuals usually result to the two polar extremes of treatment; ‘Walking it off’ or visiting the emergency room. Currently, most Urgent Cares treat injuries such as back pain, sprains and other musculoskeletal issues. Additionally, most clinics provide care for bone fractures and splinting procedures and have the ability to perform routine blood work, physical exams, and X-ray services to diagnose bone-related issues. Below are the four most common types of injuries that can be treated for at an Urgent Care:
- Fractures: The most obvious sign of a fracture is pain. You may also experience swelling, bruising, or bleeding at the location of the fractured bone. Restricted movement is a sign of a fracture near a joint. A medical doctor may be able to identify a fracture just by looking at the area, but x-rays are usually required to make an accurate diagnosis.
- Whiplash: Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs from a forceful and rapid movement of the neck. This most often occurs during an auto accident but can also stem from a sports injury or physical abuse. Common signs of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness as well as headaches. Doctors usually treat whiplash with pain medication and exercise.
- Sprain: A sprain is defined as an injury to a ligament, which is the tissue that connects the bone to the joint. Sprains are usually caused by falling, twisting, or force. They are common in ankles, knees, fingers, and wrists. You will notice pain, swelling, and bruising at the site of the injury, and restricted movement at the joint. You may hear a pop or feel the tear when the injury occurs.
- Lacerations: Lacerations are defined as a wound that is produced by the tearing of soft body tissue. Often known simpler as a cut, Lacerations sometimes require treatment through suturing, dependent on how deep and long the cut is.
These are just the most common injuries that leave individuals debating their medical options, but are not the only injuries treated at Urgent Cares. Urgent cares can often also treat:
- Pulls
- Strains
- Tears
- Muscle Pains
If you do injure yourself, don’t “walk it off” or “rub dirt into it” just to try to avoid the visit to the ER. Instead, visit an Urgent Care Such as myDoc Urgent Care. Our center is also equipped with a digital x-ray for more moderate to severe injuries to check for broken bones. If we believe you need more specialized treatment, we will refer you to an excellent local doctors who can help you feel better.
