Urgent care centers offer many services far beyond minor treatments for small injuries and illnesses. From receiving a DOT physical to getting vaccines, urgent care can provide patients with all their routine medical care needs at a moment’s notice.
Many do not understand the wide variety of treatments urgent care offices can provide. Centers can treat anything from the common cold to unexpected, painful injuries. The following are four of the primary services offered by an urgent care center.
There are many professions in which drivers must undergo a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical before beginning to work. Anyone designated as a “safety-sensitive employee” by the DOT must receive this physical. Most urgent care offices can provide DOT physicals for employees. It does not take long at all.
The test ensures employees are healthy and capable of operating their vehicles. The results of the DOT physical are kept confidential between the employee, the employer, and the medical facility.
Urgent care can also treat employees in the event they are injured while on the job. This is unfortunately somewhat common with jobs that require physical labor. Certain workplace injuries are more common than others, including muscle strains, cuts, and head injuries. You should see an urgent care center promptly to treat your injury. In most cases, the patient is completely covered by workers' compensation when injured on the job. If this is the case, you will not be responsible for covering any of the cost of services.
Perhaps the most common service administered at an urgent care center is treating minor injuries and illnesses. Injuries can occur at any time, and primary care offices are not always accessible at the time of an injury. Urgent care centers are usually open earlier and close later than your doctor’s office.
Injuries that can be treated by urgent care include sprains, strains, head injuries, chest injuries, lacerations, and many more. Additionally, you can see a center for minor illnesses such as the common cold, flu, and stomach virus. Essentially, an urgent care clinic can treat an injury or illness that is not life-threatening.
Many think of urgent care as a form of treatment during emergencies. However, urgent care is much more than a treatment center. A clinic is a great place to receive preventative care.
Preventative care consists of any testing that is done to try and prevent future injuries or illnesses from taking place. The most common form of preventative care includes vaccinations, immunizations, and screenings to identify any signs that indicate a potential problem developing in the future.
The following are important things to know about DOT physicals and other services from an urgent care center.
A DOT physical must be completed by a certified medical examiner; the majority of urgent care centers have a certified physician on staff. A DOT physical from an urgent care office includes a variety of tests. These tests primarily include:
Be sure to bring with you all of the necessary paperwork to avoid the need to revisit or a prolonged visit process. Most notably, the forms that are needed for your DOT physical include a list of all medications currently taken, primary doctors’ information (if applicable), and a health history questionnaire (this can be filled out online or in the waiting room).
The services for urgent care centers may vary, so it is important to check the services that are provided before visiting to ensure they are able to meet your precise need.
Urgent care centers accept walk-in patients (and many are exclusively on a walk-in basis), but there still may be a wait of up to 45 minutes, particularly when visiting during the busiest hours.
When enduring a severe injury that could be potentially life-threatening (e.g., a stab wound), then it is important to visit an emergency room rather than an urgent care center.
If you need a DOT physical, treatment for an injury, or any other urgent care service, then visit our clinic. If you have questions about treatment options, please call our office to see how we offer fast and reliable care.
Get more information here: https://tx-urgentcare.com or call Texas Urgent Care & Imaging Center at (832) 941-1894
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