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MythBusters: Urgent Care Edition

People tend to have a lot of questions about the concept of urgent care and how it functions. Even though we have a very useful FAQ page and have written a blog on the differences between emergency rooms and urgent care in the past, a lot of myths and misconceptions about urgent care still remain.

That being said, we are here to bust some common urgent care myths and (hopefully) leave you all with little to no remaining questions on how urgent care works.

MythBusters: Urgent Care Edition x ray machine

Myth 1: Urgent care centers are basically mini emergency rooms

FactFALSE. As discussed in our blog on the differences between emergency room and urgent care services, urgent care facilities are not equipped to handle life-threatening medical concerns such as heart attacks, blood transfusions, organ failure, and things of that nature. Urgent care facilities are best utilized for those instances in which you are experiencing a non-life-threatening medical dilemma.

Myth 2: Urgent care centers are a short-lived healthcare trend

 Fact: FALSE. Urgent care isn’t meant to be “trendy” — there are nearly 10,000 active and operating urgent care facilities in the United States alone! We are here to provide easy, quick and convenient care when you can’t make it to a family doctor and don’t feel like waiting for hours (and paying more) to be seen by a doctor in the ER. Urgent care isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

Myth 3: Urgent care centers aren’t as well-equipped as a family physician’s office

 Fact: FALSE. The doctors, nurses and specialists working at urgent care facilities have the same exact level of training as those working at private practices. Our technology and lab work are on the same tier as that of a family doctor’s office or local hospital, so don’t worry about receiving lesser care at urgent care than you would elsewhere. We strive to provide excellent care to everyone who walks through our doors every time

vybe Urgent care center interior waiting room

Myth 4: You can’t get specialized care (i.e. gynecology or pediatrics) at urgent care

 Fact: FALSE. Many urgent care centers offer gynecological and pediatric services, though this does vary from location to location. Here at vybe, we offer STD and pregnancy testing as well as lab services for our patients with gynecological needs. We also offer vaccinations and are happy to treat your little ones when they are not feeling well. If you have any further questions regarding specialized care, feel free to call us at (215)-999-6060.

Myth 5: You can’t make appointments at an urgent care

Fact: FALSE (SOMETIMES). While many urgent care centers (including ours) are walk-in facilities, some do offer appointments! If you will be needing lab work or certain tests which require timely results, feel free to call ahead and let us know — while we may not schedule appointments, it is helpful for us to know these things ahead of time so we may accommodate your needs to the best of our ability.

We hope this helps clear up any remaining questions or misconceptions you may have had concerning urgent care! If you are in need to medical attention for a non-life-threatening issue, visit one of our four vybe locations throughout the Philadelphia area.

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