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Although they have the same objective to treat patients whose needs cannot be met at the doctor's office, a hospital and a medical clinic differ in many key ways. But because people do not understand or appreciate these differences, they often use these health facilities interchangeably. Here are five reasons why they should not. Price Because hospitals have larger and more experienced staffs, more expensive equipment, and higher operating costs, they generally charge larger amounts for their services than the local clinic. Even if you were to receive exactly the same care for the same illness or injury, the bill would be significantly higher, on average, at the emergency room. Your insurance co-pay will almost certainly be higher at the ER than at a smaller health facility. This is because insurance plans pass higher hospital costs along to their customers in the form of pricier co-pays. In one recent report, the average co-pay at an urgent care center was just $25 compared to $100 at the ER. Wait Time We've all heard horror stories about patients passing away while waiting for service at the hospital. The reason? Many of these institutions are chronically understaffed and cannot possibly meet the demands their local community places on them. As a result, patients often have to wait several hours to see a health professional. While this may be necessary in an emergency, it certainly isn't the case if you have a minor illness or injury. In those instances, it is often best to go to a medical clinic in your area. Thoughtfulness The main reason there are such long wait times at emergency rooms in America is that people often use them for non-emergency care. As a result, patients who desperately need to see a doctor sometimes have to wait a lot longer. Because the average medical clinic is designed to handle serious care, it is the ideal place to go when you have an issue that requires attention in hours, not minutes. Allergic reactions, animal bites, broken bones, and minor burns are just a few of the illnesses and injuries your local clinic can handle. Hours Another reason people visit the ER instead of a nearby clinic is that they assume the latter will be closed. While it is true that some smaller facilities only operate a few hours each day, many have expanded their hours in recent years. To keep up with increasing local demand, some are now open around the clock. This is especially true if you live in a highly populated urban area. For those who reside in these areas, there is really no reason to visit the ER unless you have a genuine medical emergency. In other words, unless you have suffered a serious trauma or have a life-threatening illness or injury, you should go to a medical clinic instead. Although there are many other differences between these two health facilities, these discrepancies should help you determine where you should go the next time you require medical attention. When considering a Medford medical clinic, residents visit http://www.medfordmd.com/services/.
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