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When Should I Choose Urgent Care Over Primary Care?
Both urgent care and primary care provide essential medical support aimed at keeping you healthy. But what’s the difference between these two models of care — and how can you decide which option is the right choice for your needs and goals?
Lianet R. Tuduri, MD, and the team at Personal ConciergMed offer both urgent care and primary care to help you get the right type of care when you need it. Here, learn how these two approaches to care differ and when to select one type of care over the other.
Understanding primary care
Primary care forms the cornerstone of healthcare, providing an initial point of contact for all your wellness needs. A primary care provider focuses on managing existing conditions, like diabetes or heart disease, through personalized care based on your specific needs, adjusting care as your age and other risk factors change.
Primary care providers also focus on preventive care through annual physical exams, health screenings, immunizations, and other therapies and treatments designed to help you avoid acute and chronic conditions. They can also help you learn ways to improve your health on your own through key lifestyle changes.
Your primary care doctor serves an important role as your health advocate, coordinating care with specialists when needed and providing patient education. Revolving around ongoing health management, primary care visits also focus on long-term health needs to help you enjoy optimal wellness at every age.
The purpose of urgent care
Urgent care includes medical treatment for injuries and illnesses that need prompt medical care, but don’t require emergency interventions. While primary care visits typically require an appointment that could be days or weeks away, urgent care is available right away, usually through walk-in visits.
Some of the most common reasons for visiting urgent care include:
- Respiratory infections or diseases, like asthma
- Flu or colds
- Ear infections
- Eye infections
- Minor wounds or burns
- Back pain
- Sprains and strains
- Headaches or sinus pain
- Allergies
- Sore throat
- Hives or rashes
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Foley management or ostomy care
Some diseases, like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), benefit from both primary care and urgent care: primary care visits help you manage your disease over time, while urgent care visits help manage flare-ups.
We also offer in-office diagnostic imaging services, an in-house pharmacy, and on-site IV therapy to make it easy and convenient to receive comprehensive care when you need it.
Making the right choice
Assessing your needs, including the seriousness of your symptoms, is an important step in determining which type of care is a better choice, especially when you need to decide whether to visit a primary care office or an urgent care center.
The good news: Personal ConciergMed offers both primary care and urgent care, which means you don’t need to choose — you have complete access to both types of care during your visit. Our team begins with an evaluation of your symptoms, your health history, and your overall wellness to create a treatment plan that’s based on your specific needs and concerns.
To find the right care for your health and wellness needs, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Tuduri and the team at Personal ConciergMed in Coral Gables, Florida.