The wait was much longer than expected, but it has been an unusual day. Your youngest daughter recently decided that she wanted to go out for the high school cross country team, so you now realized that you needed to get her school physical by Monday. Initially, she was just training with the team, but when she realized that she was one of the fastest on the team, the coach talked to her about joining the team for the season. As a result, she only had a couple of days in which to get the necessary school physical form sign.

The clinic is very close to home and the price of the sports physical was only $40. The only problem was the wait. The wait was caused, however, by the fact that the cross country coach recommended that the students visit this exact clinic. Everyone who was in front of you, in fact, was another member of the team. At least during this wait, you had plenty of parents to talk to.

Walk In Urgent Care Clinics Offer a Number of Conveniences
Whether you are in need of a last minute school sports physical or you looking for answers after evening or weekend sports injuries, a walk in clinic is often the best choice. Getting a chance to ask the doctors the night that something happens in itself is a major advantage. When you have to wait until you can call in to a family physician you have often already wasted valuable time. Consider some of these facts and figures about the advantages you may have when you visit a walk in clinic for minor illnesses, sports injuries, and other medical needs:

  • 85% of urgent care centers are open seven days a week.
  • 80% urgent care centers provide fracture care.
  • 60% of Baby Boomers will be managing a chronic condition by the year 2030, which will require the need for many more health care facilities.
  • Currently 20,000 physicians practice urgent care medicine today.
  • 3 million patients visit walk in health clinics each week, according to the Urgent Care Association of America.
  • 40% of people suffering from long-term low back pain indicate that they do not see a doctor or physical therapist. Perhaps some of these people would go to an urgent care center because it is more convenient.

It is important to remember that even when you are looking for health care you are still a consumer. Making the decision between a visit to a hospital emergency room, a family physician, or a walk in clinic determines how much you have to pay, how long you have to wait, and the kind of care that you will receive. Weekend sports injuries often require immediate care, and this often happens best at a walk in clinic.