Whenever you need quick, efficient treatment for minor to moderate health concerns, your urgent care center is your gateway to fast, effective care! As a general rule, if you require treatment within 24 hours, and you either don’t have a family doctor or your doctor is unable to see you within that time frame, urgent care is the ideal option for you.

While we’ve covered the difference between emergency care and urgent care, we know that many patients still have questions about concerns that might warrant a visit to our clinic. We’ve listed eight of our top reasons why you should visit urgent care, including some of the most common ailments we treat daily.

Flu, Fever, Cough, Etc.

Flu season is hard on everyone, especially those with vulnerable immune systems, such as children, seniors, and people with chronic illnesses. If you’re suffering from the flu or with a persistent fever or cough, visit your urgent care center to receive a diagnosis and a treatment plan quickly.

If you’re unsure whether you should visit us, consider the temperature of your fever (the higher it is, the more likely you’d benefit from seeing us) and how long your symptoms have persisted (the longer they’ve been present, the less likely it is that they’ll go away without intervention). Our staff is also always happy to answer your questions over the phone.

Mild to Moderate Difficulty Breathing

Mild to moderate breathing difficulties, such as with allergies, asthma, and respiratory infections, can be effectively treated at your urgent care center. Our physicians can provide quick assessment and care to help you breathe easy again and may also be able to prescribe you medication for better at-home care.

However, struggling to breathe is a medical emergency that should be treated at your nearest hospital emergency department.

Minor to Moderate Cuts and Wounds

Many cuts are relatively superficial but require stitches to stop the bleeding, prevent infection, and reduce scarring. If you’re suffering from a minor to moderate wound requiring stitches, don’t subject yourself to long waits and high fees at the emergency department! Visit us at urgent care and receive faster, more efficient treatment.

Skin Irritations

Rashes or persistent skin irritations can quickly become unbearable! Whether due to allergies, bug bites, or exposure to plants or pollutants, urgent care centers can access faster-acting, more potent medications than those you’ll find at your local pharmacy. We can provide rapid, lasting relief for a wide variety of skin irritations and assess when you may need follow-up care.

Persistent Eye Pain or Discomfort

Your eyes are one of the most sensitive organs in your body and are constantly exposed to your environment. As a result, infections can appear quickly, and certain infections, such as pink eye, can be highly contagious.

If you’re experiencing persistent eye pain or discomfort, blurred vision, irregular discharge, excessive teariness, itching, or redness, you should visit your urgent care center as soon as possible.

You’re Uninsured or Underinsured

According to the CDC, over 25 million Americans have no health insurance, and millions more are underinsured, meaning their health insurance doesn’t adequately cover their needs.

Uninsured or underinsured people often end up in the emergency department for concerns that a family physician or urgent care center can treat. You may not realize that visiting the emergency room is up to ten times more expensive than going to your local urgent care center! Unlike emergency rooms, we offer special pricing to those without insurance, and we’re always willing to work with you to ensure that you can access the best possible care.

You Want a Second Medical Opinion

As much as we would love for diagnosis to be an easy, straightforward process in all cases, patients often struggle with diagnoses that don’t entirely fit their experience and undergo treatments that may not alleviate their symptoms. If you’re unsure about a recent diagnosis or treatment plan, getting a second opinion can help you decide on the treatment options that are right for you, or make you aware of possible diagnoses that may have been overlooked in your initial exam.

Many urgent care clinics (including Lincoln Urgent Care and Granite Bay Urgent Care) offer a second opinion, where a physician at the clinic will review your medical history before performing a comprehensive exam to assess your condition and provide you with their professional opinion on your diagnosis and treatment plan. They may also refer you to specialists who can offer you more in-depth analysis and treatment.

You Don’t Have a Family Doctor

If you don’t currently have a family doctor, many urgent care clinics offer similar routine medical services as a doctor’s office, including sports physicals, flu shots, vaccine administration, and referrals to specialists. Urgent care centers also have the necessary equipment to take X-rays and perform laboratory testing when needed, unlike most doctor’s offices.

We can also bridge the gap until your next doctor’s appointment with refills for important prescription medications that you can’t be without, along with appointments for quick services when you can’t get in to see your regular doctor.

Trust Lincoln Urgent Care and Granite Bay Urgent Care with Your Healthcare Needs

No matter your concern, our experienced, compassionate urgent care team can help! Whether you require urgent treatment or want to access our routine medical services, you can rely on us to provide high-quality care at affordable prices. Call us to schedule an appointment or walk into one of our clinics for immediate assessment!

Lincoln Urgent Care (916) 258-2751
Granite Bay Urgent Care (916) 570-7265