Urgent Care in Chicopee, Springfield and Westfield, MA

While most urgent care centers are walk-in, a walk-in medical practice may not always be an urgent care. Appointments are preferred to secure a time slot, but walk-ins are welcome. The key differences lie in the services offered and the personnel on staff. Walk-in medical practices are typically staffed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants and often provide more basic healthcare needs, such as treatment for cold and flu symptoms or mild cuts and injuries. In contrast, urgent care centers offer a broader range of services, including lab testing, physical exams, and more specialized care. Appointments are preferred to secure a time slot, but walk-ins are always welcome.

As for an urgent care center, they are typically staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants as well and usually have a doctor in the office or on call. Their technology and equipment are more advanced than a walk-in medical practice and can treat mild to moderate injuries and illnesses, like a minor fracture or asthma. As with both places, in severe or life-threatening situations, patients will be referred to a hospital emergency room.

While anyone can go to urgent care, it is important to note that everyone should establish a relationship with a primary care physician. Having a primary contact for healthcare ensures team-based healthcare delivery led by a provider. The goal is to prevent the escalation of conditions due to the lack of preventive care and to maximize health outcomes.

Without a primary contact for healthcare, patients have a greater potential to end up in life-threatening situations in an emergency room, sometimes with fatal outcomes. Other benefits include integrated and comprehensive care, a history of medical records and treatments, and most often affordability of quality care.

While urgent care provides specialized care, there is no referral needed to visit one of these medical practices.

If you are experiencing any of these common, non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, they can be treated at an urgent care center:
• Allergic reactions and asthma
• Cuts, burns, bug bites and animal bites
• Falls, sprains, strains, and broken bones
• Colds and flu
• Pink eye
• Ear infections
• Sinus pressure and sinus infections (sinusitis)
• Bronchitis and strep throat

They also offer lab services, such as:
• Blood tests including basic and comprehensive metabolic panels, blood glucose, and complete blood counts
• Electrolyte testing
• STD tests
• Pregnancy tests
• Urinalysis
• Drug tests and screenings
• Fecal blood occult
• Flu and rapid flu tests
• Strep tests
• PT / INR tests

On top of that, they also provide preventative care:
• Vaccinations and flu shots
• Physicals (school, sports, or annual)
• Gynecologic exams
• Drug screening
• Well baby checks
And more

And lastly, if you have any of these symptoms and do not know the cause, visit your local urgent care center:
• Rashes and itching
• Coughing (and dry cough), sneezing and wheezing
• Sore throat and strep throat
• Body and muscle aches
• Nausea, diarrhea and vomiting
• Headaches
• Other unexplained pain or swelling

If you or someone you know is in need of a top-rated urgent care center, come to Priority Urgent Care and Walk-In Medical Practice today! Our medical practice is clean and staffed with caring professionals to provide you with top-quality care! For more information, contact us today or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Chicopee, MA, Springfield, MA and Westfield, MA. We serve patients from Chicopee MA, Springfield MA, Westfield MA, Wilbraham MA, Ludlow MA, Southwick MA, Southampton MA, Holyoke MA and surrounding areas.