Waking up at 5:10am and I listen to Dr. Dean every morning. His topic today was Urgent Care (UC) facilities. I am going to hit on some of main topics that were overlooked. I love ya Dr. Dean but when you get behind the scenes details it's pretty unreal.

• Dr. Dean stated that most people will use an emergency room as a primary care for treatment and Urgent Cares are used in the same aspect. Most individuals do not have a primary care physicians, so that was NOT a surprise and a true statement.
• If you have a primary care physician (PCP), ALWAYS try to be seen by your PCP  that is why you have them for CONTINUAL ON GOING CARE. Not all Urgent Cares will forward your recent visit to your PCP especially if you have more severe medical conditions. Don't get lazy, pick up the phone and call your PCP see if he has an opening. I have never had trouble getting in to be seen by my PCP.
• If you do have severe medical conditions why would you move to a new city without getting enough medication refills before your move? An Urgent Care will usually only refill your perscriptions for only one (1) month -- URGENT CARES ARE NOT A PRIMARY CARE PHYISCIAN! Do your research before your move and find a new doctor and have your records with you or already transferred to your new doctor. Your health insurance will be glad to help you if you ask them.
• Urgent Cares are there to deal with small injuries and illnesses. Such as, common colds, allergies, cuts, abrasions, UTI's etc,. Example, some of the calls would ask questions like, "My husband has a catheter can I bring him in and will you replace it?" UC do not deal with catheters nor do they replace them.  If you are needing more care than an UC can provide really weigh your options, are you using an UC to cut cost and not having to wait in and ER but deep down you know that is where you need to be?
• Urgent Cares DO NOT do gynecolocial care--because a routine PAP smear are not considered an "urgent" matter and health insurance will not pay a Urgent Care facility, so who gets stuck with a higher bill? Y-O-U!
• Know your insurance. Check with your insurance or visit their websites to get information if UC is a covered benefit on your plan.
• Lab work is NOT included in an Urgent Care visit--remember you will get a seperate bill from any place that the Urgent Care doctor will send you for testing.
• PRACTICE SAFE SEX! STD's are running wild and Urgent Cares see them all the time why do you want to go to a doctor that doesn't know your health history to see you for something like that, have some common sense. IS SEX WORTH DYING FOR? Or keeping and STD such as herpes like bad ugly luggage? 
• Check with your insurance as to what your co-pay will be BEFORE you go to the Urgent Care because most health insurances will charge an Urgent Care as a Specialist Co-Pay or you will have a extreeeeemly higher co-pay. Look at it this way paying a higher co-pay is just a way for your health insurance to deter you from you using an Urgent Care or ER facility. If you need it for and "URGENT" matter then please use it, but check with your insurance as to what you will be paying. I saw $75, $100, $150 to $250 co-pays just for UC visits, when you could have saved money and paid $25 for a PCP visit.
• Know your body!! I can't emphysize that more. Don't expect the doctor to give you an antibiotic because you have an upper respirtory infection. Rely on your own instincts. If you don't feel well, get plenty of rest and drink fluids. It is still the best way to beat it. Usually, your body is exhausted and need that REJUVINATING time.
• If you have severe pain such as abdominal pain, chest pain, rectal bleeding, vomiting blood, severe appendix pain, etc,. Ask yourself--"IS AN URGENT CARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP ME?" I am going to be very blunt--NO! But will they send you to the ER not to waste your time, NO! Not all Urgent Cares will triage you and send you to a higher place of care. As with all medical practice, you want advice you need to pay for it. NOTHING IS FREE! They will charge your insurance and you will sit in the waiting room and wait your turn to be seen.
• Know the Signs and Symptoms of a heart attack, stroke, etc,. Educate yourself and be informed.
• Urgent does not mean you will get IN and OUT!! Just because there is a 6 hour wait in the ER and there is a 2 hr wait at the local UC that doesn't mean that the UC will not call an ambulance to transport your spouse to the ER if they think it is necessary. COMMON SENSE should have told you take them to the ER!!! Urgent is defined as needing action, vital attention, imperative,etc,. (1997, Oxford Desk Dictionary) If you have lost an appendage and bleeding to death, or having a heart attack--WHY THE HELL ARE YOU AT AN URGENT CARE??? I KNOW, I would not waste time in a LIFE OR DEATH MATTER to take my husband or son to and UC. WHY WOULD YOU?
• If you called your Primary Care doctor for an appointment and they are not able to get you in, keep in mind that you are not their only patient!! But if you are unhappy with their care in dealing with your health care issues--FIND A NEW DOCTOR. It will not be the first time that doctor has lost a patient and you won't be the last. Your doctor does not pay the premiums on your insurance, you do.  There is nothing wrong with finding a doctor that will give you a better piece of mind for you and your family. Doctors as good as some are, they are in a PRACTICE and they don't have the answers to everything and are PRACTICING MEDICINE on you and your family. Remember you have the final word in any of your health care decisions not your doctor they can only help you in the right directions.

Where am I going with all this information, here's my background I worked in an Urgent Care as their receptionist for a year and a half. I greeted patients and when a severe patient would come in that needed IMMEDIATE care I would ALWAYS get the nurse. Knowing what I know of UC, I would never take my family to an Urgent Care unless I really needed to. When making money becomes more important than giving good quality health care then we have hit rock bottom--People!  When a physician tells his staff, "I don't care if patients die in the waiting room to be seen. We will bill their insurance."  It becomes a question of Ethics. Should these doctors be practicing medicine and are you putting your family at risk? Statistics show that when you walk into your doctors office it is better to be prepared with a list of topics you need to discuss with your physician because your doctor's attention is 15 minutes, tops! Pretty SCARY! Have you now become ONLY a dollar symbol to your physician? Here is a quick fix of antibiotics just so you will come back for more and I can bill your insurance?  What is wrong with this picture?  Take control of your health care and the health care of your family.  There are still people in this world that WILL NOT screw other people for the almighty dollar, it's called being raised with morals. Am I angry? Yes, to a point. Because I sit back and wonder where the hell has the ability to use our common sense gone.