What To Expect When You Visit A Walk-In Clinic

Health & Medical Blog

The average wait time to book a doctor's appointment is 24 hours. Emergency rooms, on the other hand, tend to be expensive, and they give top priority to the more severe cases. So what do you do when you have minor health issues that require treatment in a timely fashion? Well, you visit a walk-in medical clinic. These are minor, conveniently placed clinics that deal with non-life threatening issues. 

Retail walk-in clinics, for instance, are typically set up inside or next to a large retailer or pharmacy. Unlike emergency rooms that usually have a sense of urgency these minor clinics are more relaxed, they offer more affordable services, and you don't require a doctor's appointment. So what can you expect from a walk-in clinic? 

1. Friendly Services

The emergency room isn't a rosy place. There's usually a lot going on, and all that pressure will lead to stressed staff. This results in stressed physicians who will prioritize treating the more advanced cases over the minor cases. A walk-in medical centre, on the other hand, has a less urgent, more relaxed atmosphere. Without that sense of urgency, the physician will be able to take the time and do a proper job. Walk-ins are especially helpful if you have kids who are nervous in hospitals.

2. Qualified Staff

The staff in most walk-in medical clinics consists of a doctor, a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant. A physical assistant has 2 - 3 years of professional school and is licensed to perform physical exams, diagnose illness, prescribe medicine and even assist during surgery. A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who pursued clinical training and advanced education. While they lack the advanced training of doctors, they can both perform a lot of what the doctors can, and they can deal with most minor illnesses and issues. 

3. Diagnosis and Treatment

Walk-in medical centres can quickly and accurately diagnose and treat most minor illnesses and injuries. Though they don't offer MRIs and x-rays, they are still a wide variety of testing options available to them. Since most of them deal with minor issues, you'll be sure to be back home in a short while with a treatment plan already in motion. In case your case is too advanced, you'll be referred to a specialist who'll be better suited to give you treatment. 

Walk-in medical clinics are a great option if you have minor health issues that need to be looked at quickly. With a more relaxed environment, qualified and friendly doctors, and more importantly, shorter waiting times, you'll be in and out of there with a suitable treatment plan in motion.

Share

29 September 2019

Living With Varicose Veins

When I first started noticing veins protruding from my lower legs, I did my best to ignore them. However, I knew they were likely varicose veins, as both my parents have had varicose veins for several years. Eventually, I went to see my doctor due to experiencing leg swelling and red patches of skin, which turned out to be varicose eczema. I was prescribed the usual treatment, and my doctor discussed surgery to strip out the damaged veins, but I decided to postpone surgery and look at managing the swelling and protrusion of veins naturally. I started this blog to share my own experiences of trying complementary therapies, such as homeopathy, herbal medicine and massage, to manage my symptoms. I hope you find my posts useful and interesting.