Illness and accidents do not have to wait by appointment. You arise with a sore throat, sprain an ankle at work, or have a sick kid on Saturday afternoon. The circumstances are not emergent but must be visited by a doc stat. Emergency rooms are busy and costly, and physician offices are not necessarily manned.
That. That’s where Atrium Health Urgent Care is. Across much of North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond, Atrium Health Urgent Care makes it easy, affordable, and reliable healthcare when families need it most.
Below is a step-by-step guide to what Atrium Health Urgent Care is, what kind of care is provided, when to go, patient benefit, and why so many families choose Atrium Health for urgent care.
What is Atrium Health Urgent Care
Atrium Health Urgent Care is an Atrium Health-owned and operated group of walk-in medical centers. The centers treat illness and injury that is not life-threatening but cannot be treated in the office of the primary care physician but is too severe to be treated at an emergency room in a hospital.
Patients can stop by, get treatment nights and weekends, and are generally seen before an ER. Atrium Health Urgent Care centers are also part of the larger Atrium Health system when specialty or follow-up is needed.
Why Atrium Health Urgent Care Makes a Difference
Med needs may not have hours. Families rely on Atrium Health Urgent Care because:
- Atrium Health Urgent Care centers are easy to locate in most communities.
- Evenings and weekends are more convenient.
- HAHN Benefits: Wait times are shorter than emergency room visits.
- Fewer fees than ER visits.
- Extremely highly qualified doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners see patients.
- Atrium Health easily transfers to specialists and hospitals if complicated treatment is necessary.
That convenience, affordability, and quality make Atrium Health Urgent Care a most vital part of community health.
Services Atrium Health Urgent Care Provides
Atrium Health Urgent Care provides a range of services for treatment of common illness, minor injury, preventive check-up, and wellness needs.
General Treatment of Common Illness
Adult and pediatric patients receive treatment and diagnosis with common illness including:
- Cold, cough, and flu
- Sore throat and fever
- Sinus infection
- Bronchitis and uncomplicated asthma issues
- Ear infection
- Allergies and mild allergic reactions
- Stomachache, diarrhea, and nausea
Treatment of Injury
Accidents do occur too often, and urgent care to the rescue. Services rendered are:
- Sprains and strains
- Small fractures with X-ray on the same day
- Sports injuries
- Small stitches for small cuts
- Small burns and scrapes
Lab and Diagnostic Testing
Atrium Health Urgent Care locations possess in-house laboratory capabilities and diagnostic testing. They include:
- Blood work
- Urinalysis
- Strep throat tests
- Flu tests
- COVID-19 tests
- X-rays of chest, bone, or joint injury
Physicals and Screenings
For school, work, and athletics, physicals are a breeze with urgent care:
- School entry physicals
- Team sports physicals
- Pre-work physicals
- Wellness screening for diabetes, cholesterol, or blood pressure
Vaccines and Preventive Care
Prevention is the key to good health. Atrium Health Urgent Care provides:
- Flu shots
- Tetanus shots
- COVID-19 vaccination and boosters
- International travel vaccinations
Occupational Health Services
Atrium Health Urgent Care is also convenient for businesses and provides:
- Employee medical screening
- Drug and alcohol testing
- Treatment of on-the-job injury
- Return-to-work certification
Pediatric Urgent Care
Kids get sick at the drop of a hat, and it is convenient for parents when the pediatrician is out of sight. The following are treated:
- Fever
- Ear infection
- Rashes
- Cold, flu, and cough
- Stomach pain
When to Visit Atrium Health Urgent Care vs Emergency Room
It should be known when urgent care will be done and when to visit the emergency room.
Visit Atrium Health Urgent Care for:
- Cold, flu, or fever
- Minor breaks and sprains
- Ear, nose, and throat infections
- Mild allergic reactions
- Cuts requiring stitches
- Rashes or minor burns
Visit the Emergency Room for:
- Chest pain or heart attack
- Stroke weakness or difficulty speaking
- Severe head trauma
- Difficulty breathing
- Heavy bleeding
- Severe injury or accident
Atrium Health Urgent Care is best for non-emergency, non-life-threatening situations that have to be addressed immediately. Emergency rooms are for urgent or life-threatening situations.
Atrium Health Urgent Care Benefits
Atrium Health Urgent Care is what families and patients count on because of so many reasons:
- Convenient walk-in: No appointment needed.
- Quick wait times: Shorter than most ER visits.
- Low-cost: Less expensive than emergency room visits to a hospital.
- Extended hours: Afternoon and evening appointments, weekends.
- Full care: Illness, accident, lab work, vaccinations, all under one roof.
- Strong network: Atrium Health full network if specialty care needed.
Patient Experience
Charlotte and surrounding community residents generally characterize Atrium Health Urgent Care as:
- Efficient: Prompt wait times and same-day in-office test results for most tests.
- Friendly: Compassionate and respectful care team and staff.
- Sanitation: Clean modern facilities.
- Convenience: Multiple locations throughout the area, some of which are located in areas where people live and attend school.
- Affordable: Insured healthcare for those without coverage.
Parents like speedy kids being treated, students and employees like evening and weekend hours.
Role in the Community
Atrium Health Urgent Care is not merely about treating disease. It benefits the community in that:
- It reduces emergency room waits.
- It gives physicals and immunizations to sports teams and schools.
- It assists businesses in providing employee health care.
- It provides low-cost health care to the uninsured.
- It empowers family members with prevention and wellness.
Because of its convenience and dependability, urgent care is one of the best means of accessing healthy populations.
Technology and Innovation
Atrium Health Urgent Care uses up-to-date technology to improve the quality of patient care, such as:
- Online check-in to reduce wait time.
- Telemedicine visits for follow-ups and routine visits.
- Electronic prescriptions to pharmacies.
- Patient scheduling and test result websites.
All these technologies are applied in an attempt to make urgent care more convenient and effective for patients.
The Future of Atrium Health Urgent Care
As North Carolina metropolitan areas and other markets expand, Atrium Health Urgent Care will expand with:
- More urgent care centers in the local neighborhoods.
- More telemedicine visits to treat patients at home.
- Quick lab tests and diagnostic imaging.
- Other preventive care such as flu shot clinics and wellness events.
Atrium Health is eager to make care easy, convenient, and dependable for all families.
Atrium Health Urgent Care FAQs
Do I require an appointment at Atrium Health Urgent Care?
No. You can walk in without an appointment. Online check-in can also reduce wait time.
Is Atrium Health Urgent Care available on weekends?
Yes. They offer evening and weekend hours for busy families.
Does urgent care repair broken bones?
Yes. Small breaks are splinted and X-rayed. More serious or complicated breaks will be referred to the ER.
Does Atrium Health Urgent Care offer vaccinations?
Yes. Immunizations routinely, flu shot, COVID-19 vaccine, and travel vaccines.
Is urgent care cheaper than an ER?
Yes. Urgent care is significantly cheaper than emergency rooms.
Are children treated at Atrium Health Urgent Care?
Yes. Infants, teenagers, and children have pediatric services.
Does Atrium Health Urgent Care treat insured patients?
We do accept patients from most of the major insurance carriers, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Will I need to see a specialist?
If you require more complex care, Atrium Health Urgent Care will refer you to specialists who are part of our network at Atrium Health.
Can urgent care diagnose and treat chronic illness?
Yes. Urgent care can treat exacerbations of chronic illness, with follow-up to be completed by your primary provider.
Is telehealth an option?
Yes. Atrium Health provides virtual urgent care visits for non-emergency illness.
Atrium Health Urgent Care is not an urgent care facility, it’s a student’s, employee’s, and family’s health ally for receiving speedy, trusted, and affordable care. With walk-ins, after-hours, and all services, Atrium Health Urgent Care bridges the gap between primary care providers and ERs.
From cold and cough to sprain and minor cuts, North Carolina families and others see Atrium Health Urgent Care. With support from the system of Atrium Health, patients can be assured that they are in the hands of not just timely, but quality, caring care.
Atrium Health Urgent Care is ready for convenient, affordable, and consistent health care for non-emergency ailments.