For example, have you heard of "Urgent Care" facilities?
Let me give you a quote - "Emergency Departments experience high wait times because patients are treated based on the severity of their illness or injury, not who came in first. Great if you are having chest pains, not so much if you have an earache. Another distinguishing comparison is cost. On average, an Emergency Department visit is approximately 30-50% more costly than a doctor’s office or Urgent Care visit. In the event of a true emergency, the extensive services offered in an Emergency Department, along with the fact that they are open 24/7, is priceless – cost should never be considered in the case of true medical emergency.
An alternative is going to an Urgent Care clinic. Urgent Care clinics are walk-in medical facilities that provide medical care on a no-appointment basis and are generally open for extended hours, including nights and weekends. Urgent Care clinics are a cost-effective alternative for the treatment of non-life-threatening medical conditions. Some clinics provide basic laboratory and X-ray services and can perform some diagnostic tests."
That comes from an article from myfox8.com, at http://myfox8.com/2014/07/08/expect-the-unexpected-emergency-department-or-urgent-care-sponsored-content/
So remember, if you have a non-life threatening but urgent medical need, you can go to your nearest Urgent Care clinic for a better experience, and cheaper cost. It helps to know your options.
