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Urgent Care and Walk-In Clinic Q&A

Urgent Care and Walk-In Clinic Q&A

Immediate Care of Oklahoma treats children and adults of all ages. Our urgent care clinic is devoted to providing all of our patients with exceptional service. Call our office or walk into one of our clinic locations.

Urgent Care and Walk-In Clinic Near Me in West Moore OK, Norman (HealthPlex) OK, Norman (24th) OK, Edmond OK, Yukon OK, I-240 and Sooner RD OK, Tecumseh OK
Urgent Care and Walk-In Clinic Near Me in West Moore OK, Norman (HealthPlex) OK, Norman (24th) OK, Edmond OK, Yukon OK, I-240 and Sooner RD OK, Tecumseh OK

Table of Contents:

When should you go to urgent care vs the emergency room?
Do I need a referral from a doctor to go to urgent care?
Is an urgent care center the same as a walk-in clinic?
Can I go to urgent care instead of the doctor?

Urgent care clinics are the backbone of the healthcare system. A lot of people are not aware of the convenience and abilities that urgent care centers have. They can treat many urgent medical situations, such as a broken bone, a strain or sprain, or even flu tests. They take a big load off of emergency rooms by taking care of patients with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions.

When should you go to urgent care vs the emergency room?


Recognizing the differences between ‘emergency’ and ‘urgent’ care are often confusing because both terms imply there’s a medical need that must be addressed quickly. However, including the extent of care which will be provided at each, there are distinct differences between hospital emergency rooms, traditional urgent care centers, or walk-in clinics.

Urgent care or walk-in clinics help fill an important gap once you become sick or injured, but your regular doctor isn’t available and you can’t wait for an appointment. If your sudden illness or injury are some things you’d normally feel comfortable addressing together with your medical care doctor, then an urgent care center or walk-in clinic setting is perhaps more appropriate than the ER. Hospital emergency departments provide medical aid at any time, day or night. However, different from both urgent care centers and walk-in clinics, they are equipped and staffed for the most complex or critical needs, including life-threatening and limb-threatening situations, from heart attack and stroke to severe diseases and traumatic injuries following a car accident.

It’s important to know when to travel to the ER. Because they will require rapid or advanced treatments (such as surgery) that are only available during a hospital setting, there are a variety of medical conditions that are considered emergencies. Symptoms that are best evaluated in an ER include:

Chest pain or difficulty breathing
Weakness/numbness on one side
Slurred speech
Fainting/change in psychological state
Serious burns
Head or eye injury
Concussion/confusion
Broken bones and dislocated joints
Fever with a rash
Seizures
Severe cuts which will require stitches
Facial lacerations
Severe cold or flu symptoms
Vaginal bleeding with pregnancy

Do I need a referral from a doctor to go to urgent care?


While a few may practice it, urgent care clinics are not appointment-based but are walk-in. No referral is needed to visit an urgent care center. That would be quite contradictory, as urgent care clinics are open later than doctor’s offices to provide after-hours care.

Is an urgent care center the same as a walk-in clinic?


While most, if not all, urgent care clinics are walk-in based, there is a difference between a clinic that is labeled “walk-in” and not “urgent care.” Walk-in clinics typically do not provide as advanced service as an urgent care clinic, as they do not have the equipment on-site nor the staff. They are typically staffed by nurse practitioners, while urgent care centers usually have a physician on-site or call.

Can I go to urgent care instead of the doctor?


Urgent care facilities are designed to take on a whole host of healthcare needs, so if your doctor is unavailable, you are encouraged to go to an urgent care center.

If you or someone you know is looking for a top-rated urgent care clinic, come to Immediate Care of Oklahoma! Our kind and compassionate staff are experienced in treating a wide range of illnesses and ailments, and can help restore your health, regardless of your age! To talk with a member of our specialist team, contact our office today. Or to book an appointment, visit us online or simply give us a call! We serve patients from West Moore OK, Norman (HealthPlex) OK, Norman (24th) OK, Edmond OK, Yukon OK, I-240 & Sooner RD OK, Tecumseh OK, and Bethany OK.

Our Locations

Edmond

Norman (Healthplex)

  • 3321 W. Tecumseh Rd. 125, Norman (HealthPlex), OK 73072
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Norman (24TH)

Tecumseh

Yukon

  • 10616 US Highway 66 Suite 100 Yukon, OK 73099
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West Moore

  • 11808 S May Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73170 (South OKC)
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l-240 & Sooner Rd.

Directions to Nearest Location