It is rare for businesses to prioritize its employees’ health, but stats show that absenteeism due to injury or illness costs billions of dollars annually. Besides, frequent visits to ER due to long waiting hours and appointment-based visits at primary care centers further increase the financial burden on the employers.
Therefore, it is fair for business owners to look for alternate yet viable solutions, such as urgent care centers. This way, the employees can benefit from timely and affordable healthcare services for their work-related illnesses and injuries.
Why Is It Better To Visit Urgent Care Centers Than ER?
Due to the unavailability of appointments at primary care units, employees often opt for ER at hospitals to get timely treatment and reduce the rate of missed work hours. A single visit to the ER for non-life-threatening situations can cost more than $1000.
Therefore, reducing the number of unneeded trips to the emergency rooms and providing avenues to help employees receive best healthcare services at the right time and value is crucial.
Wide Range of Return-to-Work Healthcare Services
Employer-based urgent care centers often deal with work-related illnesses and injuries; they are more proficient at diagnosis and treatment. Occupational medical facilities onboard specialized doctors, nurses, and support staff trained to offer medical services, including drug testing, return-to-work examinations, and DOT physicals.
Employers of safety-sensitive industries like shipping, transportation, and construction require drug testing facilities to prevent fatal injuries. Return-to-work services are medical exams or assessments that help determine if an employee is medically fit to return to work after an injury or illness.
Convenient and Accessible
Urgent care centers can be convenient and efficient for employees requiring immediate medical attention. They have flexible scheduling options and walk-in availability, making it easier for employees to seek medical care during non-operating clinic hours.
Timely and Affordable
ER units and primary care clinics require you to sit for hours in the waiting area before a doctor sees you. On the other hand, urgent care centers will take 20 minutes at most for consultation and an hour for diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, urgent care facilities cost a maximum of $150 per visit compared to $200 at a primary care clinic and $1200 for an ER.
Choosing the Right Urgent Care Center For Your Employees
Choosing the right urgent care center is important to ensure that you receive high-quality and efficient return-to-work services. Look for a center that has experience in occupational health services, offers walk-in appointments, and has positive reviews from previous patients.
Conclusion
To conclude, urgent care centers can be a convenient and efficient option if you need employee health services. With the right facility and proper care, you can receive the medical attention you need to return to work safely and quickly.
