Urgent Care Walk-in Clinic in College Park, MD

While many people are familiar with hospital emergency rooms and doctor office visits and know when to utilize these services, fewer people are aware of the purpose of urgent care and walk-in clinics. These ambulatory healthcare centers handle pressing but non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses, bridging the gap between the ER and a visit with a primary care physician. There are thousands of walk-in and urgent care clinics across the United States, providing care to countless patients every day.

The purpose of a walk-in clinic is to improve the patient’s medical experience, providing them with more flexibility, alternatives, and convenience. These medical establishments are convenient for patients who do not have access to a family doctor. Walk-in clinics help many patients with non-life threatening ailments, providing them with urgent treatment when they need it most. Common conditions walk-in clinics treat include:

– flu, cough, and colds
– minor burns
– eye, ear injuries
– medical work related to casting, stitches, dressings
– minor broken bones, sprains
– throat related tests

The purpose of a walk-in clinic is to provide an improved healthcare alternative, helping people in need of primary medical care. Moreover, our walk-in clinics typically also provide urgent care services, allowing patients to receive medical attention from a doctor on-site.

Urgent care clinics serve the same purpose as walk-in clinics: to provide affordable, convenient medical care in urgent situations. These clinics provide care for urgent medical conditions, situations that are not considered emergencies (life- or limb-threatening), but still require care within 24 hours. Some examples include:

– Accidents and falls
– Minor cuts that may need stitches
– Breathing difficulties, including mild to moderate asthma
– Diagnostic services, including X-rays, laboratory tests
– Eye irritation and redness
– Fever or flu
– Minor broken bones
– Fractures in fingers or toes
– Moderate back problems
– Severe sore throat or cough
– Skin rashes and infections
– Sprains and strains
– Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
– Vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration

In many cases, yes, urgent care is the most convenient healthcare option, more so than a doctor office visit or a trip to the ER. This is because urgent care clinics provide quick, efficient and affordable care, and, unlike the doctor’s office, no appointment is necessary. On top of that, urgent care is more convenient than the ER because it has shorter wait times, and patients with an urgent, but non-life-threatening condition can be seen much more quickly, without spending exorbitant medical fees.

Depending on the situation, it could be better to go to the ER or urgent care. Hospital emergency rooms are designed to handle the most pressing medical emergencies, such as severe burns, loss of limb, extreme loss of blood, and severe head trauma. These, and other life-threatening conditions, should always be handled at the ER, as hospitals are best equipped to handle these situations. On the other hand, it is better to visit urgent care when a medical situation is urgent (cannot wait until the next day), but is not threatening the loss of someone’s limb or life.

Express Healthcare is dedicated to providing you with all of your urgent care needs. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 4701 Melbourne Place College Park, MD 20740. We serve patients from College Park MD, New Carrollton MD, Berwyn Heights MD, White Oak MD, Seabrook MD, Laurel MD, Springdale MD, Mitchellville MD and surrounding areas.