All health care services are important and necessary. Each type of health care setting provides for different needs and treatments. When considering the kind of medical care you’ll need at any given point, it’s important to understand what differentiates urgent care vs. primary care. We’re breaking down the differences to help you understand how both types of care can help you.
A Comprehensive Overview of Primary Care
Primary care is intended to provide ongoing, long-term care and wellness management throughout your life, whenever you need it. Your primary care provider is the center of your health care team, overseeing all of your care and consulting with health care specialists as needed.
Preventive Care and Assessments
Primary care is all about prevention. You need routine assessments with your primary care provider to check your physical and mental health. Routine and preventive services inform your provider of your health status and overall well-being, allowing them to care for you based on your unique needs.
Your provider will manage your existing health conditions, and if you're at high risk for developing a serious disease, they can help you on your path to better health.
Typical Primary Care Services
A few routine health services that primary care providers offer include:
- Chronic condition management
- General wellness advice and counseling
- Medication management
- Preventive screenings
- Referrals to specialists
- Risk assessments based on family history and lifestyle factors
- Routine checkups
- School and sports physicals
- Vaccinations and immunizations
Whether an infant, a senior or somewhere in between, everyone should have a primary care provider by their side to help them maintain their best health.
Urgent Care: An In-Depth Look
When choosing urgent care vs. primary care, consider the services you need. Urgent care clinics offer immediate solutions for minor, nonlife-threatening illnesses and injuries. Unlike primary care offices, urgent care facilities aren’t intended for long-term care.
Immediate Care for Minor Health Issues
If you get a cut, burn or bone injury, urgent care services are your best choice for care. Other minor health issues are also well-suited for a trip to urgent care.
Just remember that urgent care clinics are never intended to replace emergency care. They can save money and time by helping you avoid the emergency room for minor concerns. Urgent care clinics offer quality health treatments at a fraction of typical emergency room prices.
Typical Urgent Care Services
You can expect the following services to be available at our AdventHealth Centra Care urgent care clinics:
- Allergy treatment (seasonal)
- Burn care
- Diagnostic services (X-rays, lab tests)
- Ear infection treatment
- Medication dispensing
- Minor wound care
- Quick flu care
- Strep testing and treatment
- Urgent prescription refills
Health issues like these require timely treatment, but they aren’t life-threatening or emergent, and urgent care is well-equipped to handle them.
Urgent Care vs. Primary Care: Key Differences
There are some major differences between urgent care vs. primary care providers. While some health care services may overlap, these two service lines are quite different.
Knowing where to go when health problems arise is important, especially for urgent treatment. Here are three key differences between urgent care and primary care to keep in mind:
Timing and Accessibility
Urgent care is almost always available for walk-in or same-day treatments. But for ongoing care, you’ll need to book a primary care appointment in advance, which can be a treatment barrier for immediate health concerns like infections or broken bones. Your primary care provider may be unavailable for a few days or weeks, so urgent care is better suited for problems like these.
Continuity of Care
It’s important to have continuity of care, which is why everyone should have a primary care provider. Long-term health management is beyond the scope of urgent care clinics, which offer little to no follow-up after the immediate health concern has been addressed and the patient receives their initial treatment plan.
Urgent care offers immediate solutions, while primary care focuses on long-term health management with a trusted provider who knows you.
Services Offered
Both scopes of practice contribute to effective health care, but knowing the differences between urgent care vs. primary care services can make all the difference in an emergency.
Primary care providers offer comprehensive examinations and preventive health care services. They may require additional testing at a lab or specialist, but you will return to discuss test results and treatment plans with your primary care provider.
Urgent care offers limited-scope medical treatments for minor emergencies and illnesses. You only return to an urgent care clinic when you need fast medical care for minor emergencies or illnesses.
Choosing Between Urgent Care vs. Primary Care
Before you decide, think about the nature of your health concern. One place may be better suited to handle your situation.
Consider these factors when choosing between urgent care vs. primary care:
- Appropriateness of short-term care vs. long-term care for your needs
- Long-term health goals
- Nature of your health problem
- Ongoing medical needs
- The urgency of the issue
Establishing a trusting relationship with a primary care provider has numerous benefits, while urgent care may be more appropriate for your immediate needs in many situations. Make an informed decision to reap the most benefits for your health.
Urgent Care vs. Primary Care: Use Both for Optimal Health
Knowing where to go for urgent care vs. primary care services can have a major impact during an emergency. Visit an AdventHealth Primary Care+ provider for continuity of care and long-term health management. Or visit a Centra Care urgent care clinic for minor emergencies and fast medical attention.
Regardless of the type of health care you need, our experts are here to support your whole health. Schedule an appointment today to establish a long-term relationship with one of our skilled primary care providers.
