When you’re injured or not feeling well, it’s hard to determine if your condition is appropriate for the Emergency Room or if you should go to your local Urgent Care. If your ailment is a potentially life-threatening situation, such as chest pain, severe shortness of breath, major head trauma, or a sudden and severe pain, you should go immediately to your closest Emergency Department! If your condition is less serious but still requires immediate care, Urgent Care is a more convenient and cost-effective solution.
An Emergency Department specializes in acute, life-threatening conditions, is generally part of a hospital or medical center, and is open 24 hours. The co-pay for an Emergency Room visit can range from $100 up to $250, depending on your insurance.
Nationally, about one-third to one-half of all Emergency Room visits are for superficial injuries, sprains and strains, and upper respiratory infections. This puts ERs under tremendous strain, and limits their ability to attend to serious health emergencies.
AFC Urgent Care Waltham is a walk-in medical facility that treats non-life threatening, episodic conditions such as colds and coughs and sprains and strains, we perform minor procedures such as sutures, and can also provide laboratory and x-ray services. No referral or appointment is needed and the co-pay is typically equivalent to what you would pay for a visit to your Primary Care Physician. We are staffed with board-certified ER physicians who each have a minimum of 20 years of experience in the Emergency Department.
If you’re experiencing a non-life threatening illness or injury that requires immediate attention, you can walk-in to AFC Urgent Care any day of the year from 8am to 8pm. You may also register online before you arrive to save yourself some time.
Should you still feel unsure of whether or not you require Emergency Care or Urgent Care, feel free to call our center and speak with a member of our medical staff at 781-894-6900.