Urgent Care
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Last updated by Michael Barber on Jul 10, 2018
Estimated reading time: 1 minutes
Key Points
- The wait times at urgent care centers can fluctuate significantly, ranging from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the number of patients and the severity of their conditions.
- The unpredictability of wait times at urgent care is due to the nature of the service, which involves treating a variety of illnesses and injuries, each requiring different amounts of time and attention.
- Despite the variability, most urgent care patients wait less than an hour, with 57 percent experiencing a wait time of less than 15 minutes.
- Urgent care facilities do not operate on a first-come, first-served basis, but prioritize patients based on the severity of their medical needs.
- Even after being called into a room, patients may experience additional waiting time, depending on the facility's busyness and the arrival of more serious cases.
Contents
- Unpredictable Wait Times
- Usually Less Than an Hour
- Wait After Being Called Back
- Frequently Asked Questions
Wait times in the urgent care center can vary. Depending on the number of people waiting and the severity of sickness or illness, the wait can be as little as a few minutes or as long as a few hours. That said, most urgent care patients wait less than 15 minutes while the average emergency room patient waits over 2 hours.
Key Points
- The wait times at urgent care centers can fluctuate significantly, ranging from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the number of patients and the severity of their conditions.
- The unpredictability of wait times at urgent care is due to the nature of the service, which involves treating a variety of illnesses and injuries, each requiring different amounts of time and attention.
- Despite the variability, most urgent care patients wait less than an hour, with 57 percent experiencing a wait time of less than 15 minutes.
- Urgent care facilities do not operate on a first-come, first-served basis, but prioritize patients based on the severity of their medical needs.
- Even after being called into a room, patients may experience additional waiting time, depending on the facility's busyness and the arrival of more serious cases.
Contents
- Unpredictable Wait Times
- Usually Less Than an Hour
- Wait After Being Called Back
- Frequently Asked Questions
Wait times in the urgent care center can vary. Depending on the number of people waiting and the severity of sickness or illness, the wait can be as little as a few minutes or as long as a few hours. That said, most urgent care patients wait less than 15 minutes while the average emergency room patient waits over 2 hours.
Unpredictable Wait Times
The wait times at an urgent care can be unpredictable. This is because of the nature of the service being provided. When you come to an urgent care, it is because you're dealing with a illness or injury. Everyone else that is there is dealing with something similar, however, the severity of each sickness or injury differs making some patient encounters longer than others and also forces the medical staff to triage patients based on their medical needs.
Usually Less Than an Hour
In general, when you come to an urgent care facility, your wait time is going to be less than an hour. In fact, 57 percent of urgent care patients experience a wait time less than 15 minutes. However, it's important to remember that this is an estimate. This will vary depending on how busy the facility is and what other patients come in just before or after you arrive. It's also important to reiterate that these facilities are not first come, first served. Urgent care facilities serve patients based on need. If someone comes in after you with a more serious problem, it is likely that they will be seen before you.
Wait After Being Called Back
After you have been called back into a room, you may experience more wait time. Again, this depends on what else is going on in the facility. This additional wait time is usually just a couple of minutes, but may be extended based on surrounding circ*mstances. If it is a busy day and more people with serious injuries come in after you have been called back, it is likely that your wait in the room will be long. This would be the same at any urgent care or even an emergency room. However, it is also just as likely that you'll see a doctor within a few minutes of your arrival.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I expect to wait at an urgent care center?
Wait times can vary greatly, from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the number of people waiting and the severity of their illnesses or injuries. However, most urgent care patients wait less than 15 minutes.
Why are wait times at urgent care centers unpredictable?
The unpredictability of wait times is due to the nature of the service being provided. The severity of each patient's illness or injury differs, making some patient encounters longer than others. Medical staff also triage patients based on their medical needs, which can affect wait times.
What percentage of urgent care patients experience a wait time of less than 15 minutes?
Approximately 57 percent of urgent care patients experience a wait time of less than 15 minutes.
Are urgent care facilities first come, first served?
No, urgent care facilities are not first come, first served. They serve patients based on need. If someone comes in after you with a more serious problem, they will likely be seen before you.
Can I expect to wait after being called back into a room at an urgent care facility?
Yes, you may experience more wait time after being called back into a room. This additional wait time is usually just a few minutes, but it may be extended based on what else is going on in the facility.
How does the severity of my illness or injury affect my wait time at an urgent care facility?
The severity of your illness or injury can greatly impact your wait time. If your condition is more severe, you may be seen before others who arrived before you. Conversely, if your condition is less severe, you may have to wait longer if other patients with more serious conditions arrive.
What is the average wait time at an emergency room compared to an urgent care center?
The average wait time at an emergency room is over 2 hours, while most urgent care patients wait less than 15 minutes.
Can the number of patients at an urgent care facility affect my wait time?
Yes, the number of patients at the facility and their medical needs can affect your wait time. The more patients there are, and the more severe their conditions, the longer you may have to wait.
Written by Michael Barber|Jul 10, 2018
Michael is an experienced healthcare marketer, husband and father of three. He hasworked alongside healthcare leaders atJohns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, St. Luke's, Baylor Scott and White, HCA, and many more, and currently leads strategic growth at Solv.
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