The dictionary might not distinguish between urgent care and emergency care, but the medical field does. In general, emergency rooms are equipped to handle life-threatening situations like deep wounds, head injuries, allergic reactions, and chest pain. An urgent care clinic, on the other hand, handles medical issues that require fairly immediate attention or arise outside normal office hours. Below, the skilled team at Orange Beach Walk-In Medical Care in Baldwin County, Alabama, provides a more comprehensive definition of the services their urgent care clinic is proud to provide.

3 Medical Services You Can Get at Urgent Care 

1. Broken Bone Treatment

In most cases, broken bones do not pose life-threatening complications. As a result, you can turn to the local urgent care center if you or someone you love suffers a painful accident that resulted in a bone break or fracture. A fully equipped clinic will perform the X-rays on site, so you can receive a diagnosis and get the required cast or brace in a single visit.

2. Wound Care

An urgent care center handles severe scrapes, cuts, and superficial wounds. For example, if you cut yourself while cooking, it may not necessarily require a trip to the ER, but a walk-in clinic can close the wound and prescribe antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. Likewise, a minor burn may be uncomfortable but not life-threatening. In this scenario, a local clinic is your best choice.

3. Gastrointestinal (GI) Relief

Urgent care centers are fully equipped to administer IV fluids to patients who are suffering from dehydration caused by vomiting or diarrhea. If you have a stomach bug, for example, a compassionate provider will ease the worst of your symptoms. If something else is responsible for the GI distress, the clinic may still treat it on site, or they may refer you to another practitioner. Either way, it will save you a trip to the emergency room, which you should avoid if your immune system is already compromised by a virus.

If you need urgent care in the greater Orange Beach area, head to Orange Beach Walk-In Medical Care. Dr. James K. Hurston and his qualified team are proud to provide quality health care services for patients of all ages. Visit their website to learn more about the family medicine they provide or call (251) 964-7425.