Urgent Care vs. Primary Care: How Are They Different?
When you have a medical problem, or your child is sick, deciding where to go for care can be difficult. Urgent care and primary care are popular choices for medical care, but understanding when to go to which type of clinic may be confusing. Knowing the differences between the two is helpful in choosing the appropriate care setting.
When you or your family need prompt care for a health issue or injury, visit CareWell Urgent Care. We offer high-quality, trusted care for a wide spectrum of medical concerns at our convenient locations across Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
When To Go to Urgent Care vs. Primary Care
Urgent care can treat many of the same illnesses and injuries that primary care clinics can and are a great choice in many situations. When you are experiencing a sudden illness, it may be difficult to get an appointment at your primary care provider’s office. Sometimes, it may take several days to be seen. When you are sick, in pain, or have an injury that needs prompt care, waiting this long may not be an option. Urgent care clinics are often open later into the evening, on weekends, and on holidays.
Our CareWell Urgent Care locations are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. You can simply walk in to one of our clinics and see a provider without an appointment. Wait times are typically short. You can rest assured that we are equipped to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions. With up-to-date onsite diagnostic services like X-rays and lab testing, our providers can accurately and quickly diagnose your condition and provide the appropriate care.
If you have a non-life-threatening health concern or injury but can’t wait to see your primary care provider, urgent care is an excellent choice.
What Is the Difference Between Urgent Care and Primary Care?
Urgent care and primary care typically provide services for a similar range of illnesses and health conditions. However, there are several key differences you should understand as you decide whether to seek treatment at urgent care vs. primary care.
What Is Urgent Care?
Urgent care is designed to diagnose and treat a broad range of non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. With convenient hours and onsite diagnostic services, CareWell Urgent Care providers can rapidly treat many medical issues, including:
- Flu, bronchitis, and Strep throat.
- Allergies and sinus infections.
- Asthma attacks and COPD.
- Sprains, strains, and minor fractures.
- Cuts, scrapes, and bruises.
- Sports injuries.
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs).
- And many more.
We offer several advantages, including walk-in care, short wait times, and onsite diagnostic services. CareWell Urgent Care combines medical expertise with convenient care for those times when you can’t get in to see your primary care provider and need care right away.
What Is Primary Care?
Primary care, or family medicine, is designed for ongoing care. One key goal of primary care is preventive medicine, the prevention of disease and chronic conditions through regular checkups and health screenings. Your primary care provider can help you to stay healthy through regular visits, immunizations, and health education. Other services offered by primary care clinics may include:
- Nutrition guidance.
- Managing chronic illness.
- Coordinating care with specialists.
- Depression screening.
- Women’s health screenings.
- Pediatric care.
- Sports physicals.
- Treatment of acute injuries or illness.
While there is a good deal of overlap in the services provided by primary care and urgent care, primary care focuses on ongoing, preventive medicine.
Can I Use Urgent Care As Primary Care?
CareWell Urgent Care does offer a convenient range of services that includes physical exams, lab work, vaccinations, school sports physicals, and some work-related physical exams.
It is important to also see a primary care provider regularly. Having routine health checkups is important for your long-term wellness. Your regular provider is a critical part of preventive health care. They can order health screenings, diagnose health concerns early, and help you manage chronic conditions.
CareWell Urgent Care offers many of the same services as your primary care provider, but the best use of urgent care is for pressing medical issues when you can’t get in to see your regular provider.
Primary Care vs. Urgent Care: Hours and Convenience
Convenience and accessibility are other key differences between urgent care and primary care.
Primary care or family medicine clinics are typically only open during regular business hours and closed on weekends and holidays. We have all had those moments of needing to see a provider but being unable to get in for an appointment. You may be struggling with a persistent migraine, but it’s a Saturday. Maybe your child is running a fever with vomiting and diarrhea, but it’s 7 p.m., or you’ve cut yourself on your beach vacation and need stitches.
These types of scenarios are what urgent care is designed for. Urgent care is there when you need medical care quickly and can’t wait to see your provider. With extended hours, walk-in convenience, and short wait times, CareWell Urgent Care will ensure that you get the treatment you need. We offer premier care in a welcoming environment.
Urgent Care vs. Primary Care: Cost Considerations
Is urgent care more expensive than primary care?
If you have health insurance coverage, your co-pay for an urgent care visit will be similar to what you would pay for a visit to your provider. Without insurance coverage, costs can vary depending on the treatments or diagnostic services you need.
At CareWell Urgent Care, we want to ensure that high-quality medical care is accessible and affordable. We work with most major insurance plans, and we don’t require insurance coverage to be seen. Our self-pay options are designed to provide an affordable alternative. CareWell is dedicated to your health and welfare, and we want to ensure you get the premier care you deserve.
CareWell Urgent Care: Exceptional Care for Everyone
We hope we’ve given you a better understanding of what urgent care is and how it’s different from primary care. We invite you to visit CareWell Urgent Care and experience top-notch treatment close to home.
