5 Reasons to choose Urgent Care instead of an Emergency Room (ER)
Urgent care offers a more convenient and affordable way to get help. It’s where you go when you have a medical problem, NOT a medical emergency. Most importantly, you can get the care you need without the wait.
At Exemplar Care Urgent Care, we provide high-quality medical care for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Our Urgent Care includes onsite x-rays and a fully operational lab providing many immediate test results.
Here are 5 benefits of urgent care:
1. Shorter wait times
No one likes to wait, especially when they are not feeling well. In fact, many people delay getting health care because they don’t want to spend the better part of the day in the ER waiting room. The good news is you don’t have to wait too long: while we do have busier times, on average, patients are cared for in less than an hour. That’s a fraction of the time of an emergency room visit.
At Exemplar Care Urgent Care, you can walk in or check-in online to hold your spot in the wait queue. Check wait times online from home, school, work, or on the go.
2. Affordable prices
Is urgent care cheaper than ER? An average urgent care visit runs from $165 – $190. That’s significantly less than a visit to the emergency room, where the average cost in Des Moines in 2021 was $1,120. Urgent care centers also accept the majority of insurance plans.
For our Direct Primary Care members, their urgent care visit is free!
3. Convenience
This makes them an excellent choice when you have important medical matters to check and a busy routine.
Exemplar Care Urgent Care is open 24/7, we also offer virtual visits to meet patients where they are.
4. Trusted partnerships
Urgent care centers partner with trusted healthcare systems and can send your records to your primary care physician for a seamless healthcare experience after your visit.
5. One stop service
The difference between urgent care and emergency rooms is the severity of the health problem. If the condition is life-threatening, go to an emergency room. If the condition is a minor illness or injury, take advantage of the convenience and affordability that urgent care has to offer.
Not sure if you need an ER or urgent care?
Use this chart to compare options >
