What Can You Do At An Urgent Care Clinic?

Urgent care clinics can see patients who need prompt medical diagnoses and treatment. A visit to an urgent care clinic can save you an unnecessary trip to the ER. Here are four things that you can do at your local urgent care clinic:

1. Receive a doctor's note

Some schools and workplaces require doctor's notes for extended absences. If you need to obtain a doctor's note before you go back to your responsibilities, an urgent care clinic is an excellent place to get one. Unlike regular medical practices, which often schedule patient visits for several days or weeks in the future, urgent care clinics can see patients on the same day. A doctor at an urgent care clinic can evaluate you, write you a note, and also prescribe any treatments you may need to resolve your injury or illness.

2. Get tested for COVID-19

If you believe that you may have developed COVID-19, it's important to get tested. A proper diagnosis can help you avoid passing the disease to other people. Some urgent care clinics can offer COVID-19 tests to people who believe they may have been infected with the illness. Clinics may have specific protocols for patients with suspected COVID-19 infections, so you should call ahead to find out if you should wait in your car instead of entering the clinic when you arrive.

3. Treat bone fractures and sprains

Your bones are important parts of your body that support your muscles. Unfortunately, bones can fracture as a result of accidents. Accidents can also lead to sprained joints and other mechanical injuries. An urgent care clinic can treat patients who have suffered injuries. An x-ray will allow doctors to view your bones in order to check for fractures. Your doctor may also use a CT scan to check for injuries to your soft tissue. Urgent care doctors can set broken bones and apply casts or splints to protect them.

4. Get vaccinated

Vaccines can protect you from many serious illnesses. COVID vaccines can protect people from COVID-19. However, it's also important to stay up-to-date on your other vaccines to avoid illnesses like whooping cough, chickenpox, and tetanus. If you're in need of a booster shot, you can have it administered at an urgent care clinic. Sometimes, time is of the essence when it comes to getting your shots. For instance, people who have been bitten by an animal or injured with a dirty object should visit an urgent care clinic immediately to receive the appropriate shot. 

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