A walk-in clinic is a medical office that offers treatment for walk-in patients. This is usually for patients that have minor injuries and illnesses, although some may also offer physical exams and other common services for walk-in patients as well. This review focuses specifically on minor injury treatment from a walk-in clinic.
Visiting a walk-in clinic is a great way to get the prompt care you need for minor injuries such as sprains, strains, minor burns, and minor lacerations. The following is a review of what a walk-in clinic is, what injuries (and illnesses) they can treat, and what you can expect during your visit.
Walk-in clinics can treat most minor injuries, whereas they may refer patients to the emergency room for more severe injuries that require more extensive treatment initially. The most common minor injuries that a walk-in clinic can treat are:
Ultimately, patients should assess their level of pain, the amount of blood (if any) that results from their injury, and the seriousness of the cause when deciding whether or not they should visit a walk-in clinic or an emergency room.
A walk-in clinic may not be able to treat the initial needs for a broken bone if the bone fracture is open or comminuted (if the bone has pierced the skin or broken into splinters) and is in obvious need of a prompt surgical procedure. They can treat minor head injuries (e.g. minor concussion), but more severe head trauma should be evaluated at an emergency room. Severe lacerations, such as those from stab wounds, should be evaluated at an emergency room, along with other injuries that lead to significant blood loss or the possibility of damaged organs.
Walk-in clinics can also treat many types of minor illnesses as well. This includes respiratory illnesses, bladder infections, ear infections, and more. Depending on the clinic’s focus within medical care, they may also offer more extensive diagnostic services for issues such as high blood pressure (hypertension).
The wait at a walk-in clinic is typically longer than what one can expect at an emergency room, although most patients are seen within 30 minutes to an hour. The initial discomforting symptoms are treated before the clinician looks into more detail about the cause and long-term treatment plan for the minor injury.
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Our medical office accepts walk-in patients in need of prompt care for minor injuries and illnesses who cannot wait for their primary care physician. Feel free to visit us if you are dealing with symptoms related to a minor injury or give us a call for more information on whether or not we can treat your specific concern.
Request an appointment or call Orange County House Calls at 949-204-1334 for an appointment in our Aliso Viejo office.
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