What is urgent care?
The purpose of urgent care is to bridge the gap between a standard doctor’s office and a hospital emergency room. If it isn’t an emergency, but you can’t treat your illness or injury at home and can’t wait a day for medical attention, urgent care is your best option.
You may think of urgent care clinics as substitutes for your regular doctor when their office is closed or they’re unavailable. Family Medicine Specialists of Texas believes the best care comes from a doctor who knows you well, so they're available for same-day urgent care to their patients.
As an experienced family medicine practice, Family Medicine Specialists of Texas can urgently treat illness and conditions including:
- Flu
- Sprains and strains
- Small fractures
- Lacerations
- Concussions
- Minor burns
- Asthma attacks
- Bronchitis
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
- Strep throat
- Urinary tract infections
- Ear infections
If you need urgent care, Family Medicine Specialists of Texas makes every effort to fit you in on the same day and as soon as possible.
When should I go to an emergency room instead of urgent care?
Hospital emergency rooms are appropriate specifically for emergencies when a condition or injury appears to be life-threatening or could have permanent effects, such as losing a limb. Call 911, or get a ride to the emergency room for conditions and symptoms such as:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain or pressure
- Serious fractures involving open wounds (bone poking through the skin)
- Serious burns
- Head injuries that including loss of consciousness, dizziness, or confusion
- Choking
- Heavy bleeding
- Seizures
Above all, trust your instincts about whether a situation requires going to the emergency room. Know that going to the emergency room for a minor illness or injury won’t help you get care sooner. In other words, they won’t treat your condition like an emergency simply because you’re there, and you’re likely to wait for much longer than you would at Family Medicine Specialists of Texas.
Not only are many emergency rooms busy and understaffed, but they all decide when to see patients based on the seriousness of their conditions, a practice called triage. Family Medicine Specialists of Texas will make sure to see you as soon as they're available for urgent care.
How do I prepare for an urgent care appointment?
For your convenience, Family Medicine Specialists of Texas provides urgent care, so you can get treated quickly by someone who knows you and your medical history. They also welcome new patients for urgent care. However, keep in mind that when you come in for urgent care, Family Medicine Specialists of Texas will likely need to fit you in around previously scheduled appointments.
Family Medicine Specialists of Texas makes sure to give you their full attention and ensure you quickly get on the path to feeling better. However, to save a bit of time and get the most efficient care, make sure you’re prepared with your list of medications, any past surgeries and diagnosed conditions, any allergies, and contact information for other medical providers you see. It’s especially important to do this if you’re seeing Family Medicine Specialists of Texas for the first time during your urgent care visit.
To get urgent care at Family Medicine Specialists of Texas, call, click, or just show up to the office.
