Watauga Orthopaedics recognizes that there are specific health conditions that require an emergency room visit. In those cases, we advise our patients to dial 911 immediately. However, when the issue is nonlife-threatening, it is a good idea to visit an orthopedic urgent care facility, rather than the local hospital emergency room. Here are five good reasons why:
1. Specialization
Orthopedic doctors are specially trained in musculoskeletal conditions and treatments. An emergency room doctor assesses a patient’s condition and once the condition is diagnosed as musculoskeletal, the patient is then referred to an orthopedic doctor who will provide specialized care. By starting out at an orthopedic urgent care center, you essentially cut out the middleman. An orthopedic doctor at a multi-specialized orthopedic urgent care facility immediately sees the patient. He or she examines and diagnoses the patient’s condition and goes about providing treatment options right then and there.
2. Orthopedic Doctor On-Site
An emergency room patient may have to wait in the emergency room for the orthopedic doctor on call to come to the ER. If an orthopedist happens to be at the hospital at the time of your emergency room visit, he or she may be swamped with multiple patients and you’ll have to wait your turn to be seen for your condition to be diagnosed and to receive treatment. Although your condition may not be life-threatening, it is likely painful. Waiting is uncomfortable, and a long wait could exacerbate the situation.
An orthopedic urgent care facility has orthopedic doctors on-site. Patients are seen and diagnosed more quickly than at the ER. Watauga Orthopaedics’ Urgent Care offers on-site help for children and adults, so you can just walk in and be seen right away.
3. Lower Cost
An emergency room visit is cost-prohibitive. According to the National Institutes of Health, the median cost of an emergency room visit is more than $1,200. This estimate doesn’t include diagnostic tests, so the costs are likely much more. Visiting an orthopedic urgent care facility is less expensive, generally, than what an office visit would cost.
4. Convenience
Visiting an orthopedic urgent care facility is convenient. As previously discussed, you don’t waste a lot of time waiting for an orthopedic specialist to arrive and see you. Additionally, because orthopedic urgent care focuses on orthopedics, the waiting room isn’t likely to be swamped with people with all kinds of conditions waiting to be seen. Patients at Watauga Orthopaedics’ urgent care facilities are there because of musculoskeletal concerns. This cuts down on wait time, and significantly reduces the risk of being exposed to communicable diseases.
5. Comprehensive Care
An orthopedic urgent care visit offers comprehensive care. If a patient’s condition requires therapy, that’s available on-site. If a patient requires diagnostic testing such as an X-ray or MRI, it also is available. Watauga Orthopaedics’ comprehensive urgent care facilities also provide the option of surgery, if needed.
Please don’t hesitate to visit Watauga Orthopaedics’ comprehensive urgent care. Schedule an appointment or just walk right in. We’re here when you need us.
