If, like myself, you have found yourself in a situation where you are unsure whether you need to visit a walk-in clinic or the ER, then consider the following?
- Is the situation life-threatening?
- Is the patient struggling to breathe?
- Does the patient have heart attack or stroke symptoms?
- Is the patient having a seizure?
- Has the patient lost consciousness?
- Has the patient had an overdose?
- Is the patient suffering from severe pain?
- Has the patient experienced trauma?
- Is the patient bleeding heavily?
If the answer is yes to any of the above, or if you are still unsure, then go to the ER. Emergency rooms handle true medical emergencies. If the situation is serious, then it is always advisable to go to the ER.
If you or your family member has an urgent medical need that isn’t serious enough for the emergency room, then you should visit a walk-in clinic. I found in McKinney, TX, a family-friendly urgent care clinic that provides excellent, comprehensive services. They are open late (8 pm) and at weekends, and although they encourage booking online for a faster experience, they welcome walk-in patients. The wide range of conditions and ailments treated include:
- Cuts requiring stitches
- Rashes
- Broken Bones
- Strep Throat
- Pink eye
- Urinary Infections
- Diarrhea
- Flu
- Infections
There are many other services available, such as on-site COVID-19 testing and pregnancy testing.
The walk-in clinic in McKinney, TX, I found, was up to ten times less expensive than the Emergency Room for comparable services. They are a more convenient and affordable solution. The ER can often mean a long wait time and a big bill. The urgent care clinic I visited is in-network with insurance, including Medicare & Tricare. They are a friendly, experienced, professional, prompt solution when you do not need to visit the ER.
Remember, if the situation is serious, go to the ER. If it is not life-threatening but urgent, go to a walk-in clinic.
For more information about walk-in clinics in McKinney, TX, visit Communitymedcare.com.
