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> I'd prefer not to pay 5000 or 6000 total - $3000 to a hospital and $3000 to an ER doctor agency for a small 2nd degree burn or small cut requiring stitches, o
by pcwalton 4y ago
> I'd prefer not to pay 5000 or 6000 total - $3000 to a hospital and $3000 to an ER doctor agency for a small 2nd degree burn or small cut requiring stitches, or any other issue I may have been taken there in the past for.
In the US, this is what urgent care is for. If there's an urgent care clinic in the area, you should absolutely not go to the ER for that kind of stuff. The price of the ER reflects the fact that it's for major, life-threatening emergencies; if you go there for a cut requiring stitches, then you're not using the medical system efficiently, and that's why the costs are what they are.
Personally, I've found the urgent care clinic I've gone to to be a better experience than both the ER and my primary care physician. It's gotten me in and out with quick, high-quality care, and it's cheap.
- denimnerd42 4y agoOf course.. and that's what happens most of the time but it's not that simple still. I've found urgent care experiences are highly variable even between same location. The ER is more a guaranteed thing with set standards.
- kayodelycaon 4y agoUrgent care varies a lot. Going to one around here is not a good idea. I don't think any of them has more positive reviews than negative ones. I decided to risk one of the better reviewed places. It was empty and I was completely ignored by the staff who were on their phones. My worst taxi experience was better. At least I left before they could rip me off. Ended up going to the ER and the nurse told me the urgent care place would have just sent me to the ER anyway.
- pcthrowaway 4y ago> life-threatening emergencies It's not really just for life-threatening emergencies. If you cut your toe off at 2 AM you probably want to go to an ER to see if there's a chance it can be reattached.