Fast Care Medical Clinics Live Up To Their Name
Fearing she had strep throat, she wanted to seek medical attention.
This declaration instantly gave me visions of sitting in our primary care physician’s waiting room for the standard 30-45 minutes past the time of the appointment just to be seen. Plus, we’d have to inconveniently drive all the way across our city just to get to the clinic. Sensing my thoughts, my wife said, “Why don’t we go to that fast care place where we got our flu shots?â€
Her suggestion to go to the fast care center was pure gold.
The nearest fast care center is located much closer to our home than our primary care physician’s clinic. The center is staffed by a receptionist and a certified nurse practitioner. Since the center is actually associated with our primary care physician, they take our insurance. Interestingly, they only accept walk in patients so you can guestimate how long your wait will be by simply looking at the number of people in the waiting room, which on this day was exactly zero.
Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
While my wife was being examined (she was called back as soon as she filled out the insurance paperwork), I read through the list services provided, which included the most common reasons people visit the doctor:
- Allergies
- Bug Bites
- Cold and Flu Symptoms
- Ear Infections
- Minor Burns
- Pregnancy Test
- Rapid Strep Test
- Sinus Infections
- Sore Throat
- Sports and Camp Physicals
The sign said the center provided low cost medical services, but the prices listed were exactly the same as our primary care physician’s main clinic.
The savings here is time. In the few minutes it took me to gather information regarding services and prices, my wife was back. Rapid strep test was negative, recommended course of action was to pick up some maximum strength decongestant for daytime, Nyquil for nighttime, plenty of rest and liquids.
I’ve spent countless hours sitting in the waiting room while a member of my family waited to be seen for some common ailment. I shook my head as I wondered why I hadn’t utilized the fast care center before.
Have you ever used a fast care center? Did you find the quality of treatment equal? Was it faster than going to your primary care physician?
Brock is a software engineer by day and personal finance blogger at night. He is a fitness junkie and enjoys grilling and smoking meat. Married with two children, Brock strives to improve his skills as a husband and father, and is always on the lookout to stretch his family’s budget as far as he can.
That’s awesome. Saving time when it comes to medical care is a good opportunity to pursue so long as you don’t sacrifice your level of care. Sounds like you worked it out perfectly!
I also hate it when I have to wait past my appointment time at my physician when I’m really sick — really really uncomfortable. I don’t get sick often, but lately we always go to a fast care center for common sickness. It’s a bit less expensive and I find the service rather quicker than my primary physician, even without an appointment.
@MoneyBeagle – I agree…and since it’s run by my primary care physician I have no worries as to the quality of care. Thanks for dropping by!
@Suburban Finance – That was our experience too….looking at the list of services and illnesses treated, the fast care clinic would be a viable option for almost every doctor visit my family has. It’s good to have another option in our back pocket!