BY DON NAPIER
Crossville Life Publisher
In 2012, there were nearly 130 million emergency room visits in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s a staggering number.
Many people relied on emergency departments for primary care services because they didn’t have insurance coverage. There is also a shortage of primary care providers in the United States, forcing people in some communities to visit the emergency room for basic medical care.
Increased use of the emergency department is costing insurers billions of dollars per year, and sick and injured patients are waiting hours to be seen due to overcrowding. Visiting an urgent care center is an affordable alternative to using the emergency department for primary care.
Physician Shortages
The United States is expected to have a physician shortage of approximately 45,000 by the year 2020. There are several reasons for the shortage:
• Older doctors retiring from practice,
• Doctors leaving the medical field due to healthcare reform,
• High costs associated with running private practices, and
• Physicians leaving their practices to teach or pursue other professional opportunities. There are many other reasons.
Physician assistants and nurse practitioners are stepping up to provide additional primary care services, but some communities don’t have enough of these professionals to meet the demand for medical care.
The high cost of ER overcrowding
Emergency room overcrowding contributes to increased healthcare costs, but money isn’t the only concern. Some emergency rooms have to divert ambulances to other hospitals when they are too crowded to treat additional patients. This leads to delayed care and poor outcomes for many patients. Patients who visit the emergency department may also have to wait longer to be seen, which can delay the diagnosis of a serious illness or injury.
Urgent care is the answer
Urgent care centers represent a solution to the problem of ER overcrowding and a lack of access to primary care. These centers, like the new Fast Pace Urgent Care that just opened in Crossville, are staffed by medical professionals who are trained to treat acute injuries and illnesses, as well as help patients manage chronic medical conditions. Physicians, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, physician assistants, and phlebotomists are just some of the professionals who staff these centers.
One of the reasons people don’t get regular medical care is they are unable to visit a doctor’s office during normal business hours. Urgent care centers have extended hours, making it possible to get the care you need when it suits your schedule. Some private practices close early on Fridays and remain closed through the weekend, but Fast Pace Urgent Care is open late on weeknights and for several hours on Saturday and Sunday.
Wide Range of Medical Services
These are just some of the valuable services provided by an urgent care center:
• Workers’ compensation examinations,
• Pre-employment physicals & drug testing,
• Digital On-site X-rays and laboratory tests,
• Vaccinations and injections,
• Diabetes management,
• Cholesterol and blood pressure monitoring,
• Asthma and allergy management, and
• Treatment for broken bones and fractures.
Urgent care vs. emergency room
There are several benefits to visiting Fast Pace Urgent Care in Crossville. One of the biggest benefits is the reduced cost of visiting an urgent care center. If you are paying for your visit out of pocket, you can save hundreds or thousands of dollars by visiting a walk-in clinic instead of an emergency room. Your copay will be much lower at Fast Pace Urgent Care. All Fast Pace providers are credentialed under family practice, so your co-pay will fall under PCP, making the payment much less than an ER visit.
Reduced wait times are another benefit of visiting an urgent care center. If you visit an emergency room with a minor injury, you are likely to wait for hours while staff members care for people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents, house fires, and other emergencies. Urgent care clinics do not handle incoming traumas, so you are likely to be seen quickly.
Top Priority
At Fast Pace Urgent Care, your comfort and convenience are their top priorities. Whether you have a minor injury or a chronic illness, their friendly staff members will treat you with compassion and respect. Visit Fast Pace Urgent Care, located at 665 North Main Street in Crossville, TN (located next door to Subway) when you can’t wait to be seen.
