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For some top-of-the line urgent cares, the similarities to the ER are impressive. Services such as X-rays, wound care -- stitches and staples -- EKG, abscess incision and drainage, STD testing, physicals vaccinations, animal and insect bites, burns, travel medicine, asthma, migraine treatment and IV treatment are all available at the best urgent cares. These care centers also handle quick visits relating to a variety of illnesses such as cold and flu, sore throat, respiratory infections, UTI's and any other minor ailments that patients may experience.
However, there are times when the emergency room is a necessity. For example, heart attacks and life-threatening emergencies always warrant a visit to an Emergency Room. That being said, most ER visit today are not true medical emergencies. This is where urgent care centers are quite useful to patients seeking immediate care.
Aside from the array of services offered at urgent care centers, they are also a more comfortable and cheaper alternative to the emergency room. A standard ER visit with most insurances can run as high as $150 to $200 on the copay alone, not to mention the surprise add-on costs of diagnostic testing.
Conversely, an urgent care copay rarely exceeds $50, and in many cases comes with no copay at all. The comfort of a proper urgent care reception area is second to none. Comfortable couches, televisions, and complimentary coffee, tea, and hot chocolate help incoming patients feel at home when they visit, as opposed to the chaos of many emergency room waiting areas. Speed of admission is also a priority in the urgent care setting; patients are often taken to a room within minutes.
If you haven’t visited an urgent care office in the past, stop by The Doctors’ Office of New Jersey in Midland Park, located in the Midland Park Shopping Center on 85 Godwin Ave. Ask for a tour and allow the staff to show you just how an urgent care facility operates. Or give them a call at (201) 857-8400 or visit them on the web.
