Going through an urgent medical situation can be stressful and overwhelming. Many people turn to an emergency room by default to seek medical attention. However, not every medical situation requires the attention or services you would receive from an emergency room. In fact, an urgent care clinic in Toone, TN can perform many of the same services you would find at an emergency room. There are also several benefits of going through an urgent care facility, including lower costs, shorter wait times, and a more personalized experience for your health care. The next time you are experiencing a medical condition that requires urgent attention, remember that you have a friendly urgent care clinic near Toone, TN to help you get back on your feet.
Here at Premier Family Medicine, we understand first-hand the stress and uncertainty that can come from an urgent medical situation. That is why we place compassion, convenience, and education at the center of everything we do. Our highly trained and friendly staff will sit with you to understand your medical condition and what you are going through. Once one of our providers understands what is ailing you, they will provide services and medication to help reduce the severity of your condition to get you back on your feet as soon as possible. On top of that, we often experience shorter wait times when compared to local emergency rooms. Furthermore, for any medical condition that we cannot treat at our urgent care clinic, we offer referrals to providers that are better equipped to treat whatever medical condition you are experiencing.
If you are experiencing a medical condition requiring urgent attention, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by phone or stop by one of our locations. We offer appointments as well as walk-ins for every service we offer!
What is an Urgent Care Facility?
An urgent care clinic is a medical facility that aims to provide treatments for illnesses and injuries. Urgent care clinics can treat cuts, broken bones, and urinary tract infections. They are also helpful for those experiencing chronic pain or flu symptoms that do not require an emergency room visit. Urgent care clinics often operate on a more traditional 8 to 5 schedule. Here are some common things that are often treated at an urgent care facility.
What Can an Urgent Care Clinic do for Me?
If you are curious about the urgent care services provided by our providers at Premier Family Medicine, here are some of the most common medical treatments we can perform for you.
Repair of Simple Lacerations
A simple laceration is a superficial break in the skin that is usually clean and straight. More serious lacerations will often be dirty, jagged, or have an irregular shape. Lacerations are most often caused by blunt force trauma to the body’s surface but may also be caused by sharp objects.
To treat a simple laceration, you must first wash the wound with anti-bacterial soap. After washing the laceration, you will need to go to an urgent care facility. At the urgent care clinic, a provider will often apply antibiotic ointment to the laceration to promote healing. In some cases, a provider may also use a bandage or another form of adhesive to help close the wound and relieve some associated pain.
Skin Biopsies
Skin biopsies can be the answer to determining the cause of skin symptoms. Skin symptoms such as dryness, redness, flaking, and itching can be a skin disease or allergy. These symptoms can also occur due to an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, kidney disease, lupus, hepatitis C and even HIV/AIDS. Multiple tests may be performed at an urgent care clinic before a diagnosis is made.
Incision and Drainage of Abscesses
Abscesses are a common and painful complication of bacterial infections. They usually appear as large, swollen bumps on the skin. A provider will often prescribe antibiotics to battle the infection, but in some cases, the abscess needs to be drained manually with a needle or other instrument.
An incision and drainage procedure can be performed at an urgent care facility. The procedure is usually performed without the aid of anesthesia. However, some patients may have to undergo the procedure under anesthesia because it can be very painful.
Toenail Removal
There are many reasons medical providers remove toenails. Some of these reasons are for hygiene, to prevent ingrown nails, or to help treat nail fungus. Physicians usually remove the toenails, so they don’t have to worry about getting an infection from treating someone who has an open wound underneath their nail. They can also remove toenails if they contact the skin on the foot and cause a problem like an ingrown nail.
To remove a toenail, a medical provider will usually use an electric drill or a sharp object to break through the nail on the top and the bottom so that they can create space to cut away from its front side. After this, a provider will just need to file down the remaining nails until they are flush with the skin at the bottom of the toe.
The Benefits of Going to an Urgent Care Clinic Near Toone, TN
There are many benefits to going to an urgent care clinic instead of the emergency room for a non-life-threatening injury or illness. These benefits often revolve around the cost of the care, average wait time, and the overall quality and accuracy of the services provided.
The Overall Cost of an Urgent Care Facility Visit
One study found that going to an urgent care clinic is less expensive than an emergency room. This study considered the cost of patients who went to either type of facility and found that patients who went to an urgent care clinic had a median hospital bill of about $1000 less than patients who went to an emergency room. This is because the average length of stay for people in an urgent care clinic is shorter than for people in an emergency room.
Wait Time
A recent study found that patients with minor illnesses or injuries wait significantly less time to see a provider when they visit an urgent care clinic versus the emergency room. The study found that, on average, it takes about half the amount of time to receive treatment in an urgent care facility than in an emergency room. Providers at urgent care clinics also tend to be more accommodating and willing to answer patient questions and address specific complaints.
The Quality and Accuracy of an Urgent Care Clinic
Patients can often receive better service at an urgent care center than they would at an emergency room. Urgent care centers offer various services that can’t be matched at an ER, such as nurse practitioners who conduct physicals and offer diagnoses and treatment plans for minor injuries and illnesses. The accessibility of the facility also means patients don’t have to wait as long before being seen.
Toone, TN Urgent Care Clinic FAQ
What is the cost of a visit to an Urgent Care Clinic in Toone, TN?
The cost of a visit to an urgent care clinic depends on the type of insurance you have, the location of the facility, and what services are provided. Individuals with high deductible health plans typically end up paying out-of-pocket for all expenses associated with their visit because such plans do not cover these costs.
How Long will an Urgent Care Appointment Take?
An appointment at an urgent care facility can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour or more, depending on the severity of one’s symptoms. The first step is to fill out some paperwork, which usually takes about 10 minutes. After waiting for a few moments, an urgent care provider will bring you back to an exam room and ask you about your symptoms.
What are the Hours at Your Urgent Care Facility in Toone, TN?
Here at Premiere Family Medicine, we are open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. We are closed Saturday, Sunday, and 12 PM to 1 PM Monday through Friday.
Do I Need an Appointment to Receive Care from an Urgent Care Provider?
You do not! We accept walk-ins at both of our Premier Family Medicine locations. However, we want to encourage all our patients to make an appointment if able.