What Is the Difference between Urgent Care and Walk-In Clinic?

Many walk-in clinics are combined with urgent care and other medical services for the greater good of the patients, including ours at Getwell Urgent Care. Walk-in clinics provide an affordable medical care facility to patients that need medical attention, but it is provided on a first-come-first-serve basis. Walk-in clinics work with the “no appointments necessary” style of medical care.

If you need medical attention within 24 hours or less, but you are not experiencing what is considered a medical emergency by life or limb-threatening situation, then urgent care is the facility to visit. A few of the most common reasons why you would head over to visit an urgent care for medical needs include:

• Colds, Flu, and Coughing

Once cold and flu season hits, primary care offices will start to become quite busy, if you become sick with symptoms from cough, cold, or the flu, you can contact our urgent care for an appointment for treatment.

• Fever and sore throat

Fevers and sore throats also occur often during the colder seasons, if you are suffering from a fever or sore throat, contact our urgent care today to schedule an appointment to see a physician.

• Consistent eye discomfort

The eyes are a sensitive organ, they are always in direct exposure to the surrounding environments; however, if you begin to notice symptoms of blurry vision, itchiness, discharge, teary eyes, or redness, then a visit to our urgent care is warranted.

• Sprains and strains

Urgent cares are available to diagnose your strains and sprains and prescribe medication or referrals if necessary.

• Mild to moderate breathing problems

If you are noticing issues with your breathing, like being unable to breathe, immediately head to the emergency room; however, if you are having minor to moderating issues breathing, including allergies or asthma, even respiratory issues

• Cuts or lacerations that need stitches

If you have a laceration or a cut that was bleeding, but you now have it contained, we are able to clean up the cut or laceration and provide stitches and a bandage to help minimize the risk of infection and reduce scarring

• Digestive and nausea issues

Many differing ailments can cause digestive or nausea issues, if you are dealing with any ailments that have these as a symptom, our urgent care facility will be able to provide diagnostic services and lab testing to determine the cause of your symptoms and prescribe medication if necessary

• Rash or itchy

If you are suffering from a rash or acne, we can provide fast-acting medication to help alleviate any of your severe allergic reactions, some reactions can be from pollutants, bug bites, plants, and/or certain foods

• Ear pain and discomfort

Ear discomfort and pain can halt your progress on the day and have you out of commission for a while. Our physicians will have access to tools to help find the cause and provide methods of treatment

• Severe muscle and joint pain/aches

Aches and pains can be a nagging sensation that keeps you from doing the things you enjoy doing or need completion. It’s important for you to talk to a physician about your aches and pains to get proper treatment

• Underinsured or no health insurance

If you are dealing with a condition, injury, or illness, we provide medical care for a fraction of the cost of the ER department. However, if you are dealing with life or limb-threatening issues, immediately go to the ER department for help.

Emergency room departments are available to those dealing with limb or life-threatening situations, if you are suffering from an injury, illness, or condition which is not threatening to your life or limbs, then urgent care is much more convenient and provides a cheaper alternative to that of an emergency room.

You have found one of the best urgent care near you i.e. Getwell Urgent Care in Merced, CA. Call us or simply request an appointment today to visit our clinic and meet with one of our physicians.

Some of the most common conditions we treat at Getwell Urgent Care in Merced, CA include:

• Sprains
• Strains
• Broken Bones
• Bronchitis
• Ear Infections
• Ear Aches
• Food Poisoning
• Hives
• Rash
• Kidney Stones
• Mono
• Pneumonia
• Poison Ivy
• Sinus Infections
• STDs
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Stomach Flu
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Vaginitis
• Wound Repair
• Pediatric medical issues

Many of the services that are provided at walk-in clinics as well as urgent cares are almost identical. For more information, call us today or schedule an appointment online. Visit our clinic conveniently located at 3090 M Street, Suite 9 Merced, CA 95348. We serve patients from Merced CA, Atwater CA, The Grove CA, Bear Creek CA, Planada CA, and Athlone CA.