Immediate Care Centers - All Set To Grow

With approximately 9000 urgent or immediate care centers in the United States, the public now has convenient facilities for the treatment of sprains or colds, along with getting blood tests or imaging done.

The compelling benefits that people derive from these clinics are easy access and lower costs than those in emergency rooms.

This is not surprising considering the frustration people experience with long waits in emergency rooms.

According to a survey, the most common treatments in a DC immediate and primary care center was URI, or Upper Respiratory Infection, and wound repair.

“It is very convenient”, says a school teacher based in Washington. “DC immediate and primary care is now the main place for us to go, especially on weekends and or evenings when our primary care doctor does not have office hours”.

Doctors are finding that immediate care centers are an attractive investment opportunity. Private equity firms are investing billions of dollars in health and medical services.

This is not an unusual revelation considering that urgent care centers are consumer driven and fit very well into the present day lifestyles. 

People are looking for greater convenience, accessibility, and lower costs than what they get at other health care centers.

Despite the high growth potential seen, experts say the growth will be localized. Market will depend on a case to case basis with competition, demographics, and reimbursement challenges being the key factors.

According to an MD based doctor, “Hospital systems are moving towards an era where they will be paid based on the quality of care rather than simply a payment for service”.

“Immediate care centers must improve patient outcomes by providing good quality doctors who score well on efficiency”.

Thankfully, in Alexandria, immediate care centers are now physician staffed and provide extended hours and quality care – two of the key requirements patients want.

In the years ahead, hospitals may opt to open urgent care centers. This can be happy news because such an initiative will target neighborhoods and demographics that are underserved by facilities for treatments.

With an aging population, looming shortage of primary care physicians and more insured people in the marketplace, immediate care is set to play an important role in the healthcare space.

What is STD Testing and Who Needs It?

Any person in Washington DC who is active sexually must undergo STD testing. Washington DC offers a number of clinics that offer speedy, anonymous STD testing packages. With these, it is no big deal to get yourself tested for any kind of suspected sexually transmitted disease while keeping it confidential.

Stay Safe and Secure

It is highly essential to have a test done if you observe any kind of irregularity or some unusual symptoms in your body. Diagnosing the problem well in advance helps in curing the same easily and on time. In case of positive outcome, the clinics in Washington DC also counsel you to talk to your sexual partner/s while maintaining your respect and confidentiality.

Getting the Test Done 

If you have been sexually active with more than one person in the last six months, it is important to get STD tests done. It is often observed that the most severe of the diseases often do not show any symptoms in the initial stages. For example, the HIV test doesn’t show positive even if someone is carrying the virus for six months. There have been cases where someone did not know about HIV Virus in the body and the blame went to other partner for transmitting the disease because of the lack of awareness of the test. Getting the tests done is all about your and your partner’s safety.

Most Common STD Tests and Symptoms Observed

There are some very common STDs that have been observed in people who are sexually active with multiple partners. Chlamydia is the most common disease and it is easiest to cure too. Quite often, it is overlooked as an STD. A person observes symptoms of this STD almost after 2 to 3 weeks of ailing. The symptoms are Vaginal Discharge, Painful urination, Testicular pain, discharge from the penis, pain in lower abdomen, and painful intercourse.

The symptoms may be mild and not bothering you much, however, the disease is communicable and you may transfer it to your partner. So, make sure you get the tests done immediately if you observe such symptoms.

Xpresscarenow is one of the leading clinics in Washington DC that offers 24 hours urgent care for STDs.

If You Are In Doubt, Do Not Delay – Get an STD Test Done Confidentially

It is always a good idea to play safe when engaging in oral, anal, or vaginal sex.

Always use condoms or other barrier methods to reduce the risk of contracting HIV, syphilis, or gonorrhea.

The right kind of protection will also safeguard you against herpes and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which can cause genital warts or even certain types of cancers.

Even if you are confident that you have used safe methods, it makes sense to schedule regular checkups.

Remember, most of the infections can be easily cured.

In case you have symptoms, clinicians at any STD Clinic in DC are available for tests and guidance.

Feel free to go to a walk in clinic; Alexandria VA has several where you can be seen in less than 30 minutes.

Fortunately, HIV testing is quite easy and painless. Once you get it over with, your mind will be at ease.

On the other hand, if the test shows you do have HIV, you still can get the right medication so that you can stay healthy and greatly lower your chances of transmitting it to others.

Here is a piece of advice.

You may search for an option for anonymous testing. This is quite understandable. But keep this in mind that there are distinctions between confidential, private, and anonymous testing.

Confidential testing

In confidential testing, only you know that you have undergone the test.  The clinic does not notify anyone, excepting that certain results may be reported to the CDC.

All that you have to do is go to an STD clinic in DC with a code you receive in email registered with them, give the blood for testing and you are done.

Private STD testing

Remember that all STD testing is private. It is mandatory for the clinics to strictly follow the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA.

The difference of this kind of testing from confidential testing is that your name and other identifying information will be linked to your medical records; however, the clinic is committed to protect your privacy as per law.

Anonymous testing

Total anonymity, strictly, may not be possible in the United States. But some test centres may accept an “alias” or a different name when ordering a test.

Xpress Care Urgent Care Clinic provides health care on a walk-in basis (including testing for sexually transmitted infections) without needing an appointment.

Anonymous Private STD Testing A Boon

Continuing research on the prevalence of Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis is revealing a growing public health concern. 

Women, young adults, and minorities seem to be the greatest affected. 

All these three diseases are fully treatable with medication, especially if diagnosed early. The keyword here is early diagnosis, because untreated STDs can have disastrous long-term effects..

 “There is a facility for STD testing near me ”, says a resident of Pentagon City. “In reality it is an urgent care clinic 

that provides rapid, anonymous, private testing for any sexually transmitted disease.” 

These days many Americans are reluctant to get themselves tested for STD because they feel their private medical information will be made available to others. 

Such fears are unfounded. 

If you are looking for the right STD Clinic, DC has a few that offer completely confidential testing. 

The test results are rapid and the results are completely private. 

For people who get tested for STD, privacy is of utmost importance. Thankfully, most STD Clinics in DC understand patients’ concerns and take adequate steps to protect their privacy.

At these urgent care centers, tests are done at patients’ convenience. 

An individual can place an order online and drop in any time at his/her convenience without an appointment. None of the clinics’ staff ask any embarrassing or invasive questions about the individual’s medical history. 

The importance of getting tested 

Some people wrongly believe that they will know if they have a sexually transmitted infection. 

The truth is many STDs have no signs or symptoms. Moreover, an annual health care check up may not include tests for sexually transmitted infections. 

It is important therefore, if a person has unprotected sex or has a new partner, and if he or she is worried about getting infected, a discreet and reliable test is absolutely essential. 

Xpress Care Urgent Care Clinic provides health care on a walk-in basis (including testing for sexually transmitted infections) without needing an appointment. 

Afterhours Clinic Alexandria VA a Great Relief for Medical Emergencies

What does one do if they experience an injury after office hours? Or what does one do if they are busy with their work and do not have time to visit a doctor? Though there are emergency rooms, they now can visit the afterhours clinic Alexandria VA. The patients get high quality medical treatment at any time that’s convenient to them. The afterhours clinic are part of the urgent care and walk in clinic in Alexandria VA that offers services like well qualified doctors, short waiting times, and have contracts with some of the leading insurance companies that offer low and cost effective payments. 

The urgent care Alexandria VA clinics extend their services to the neighboring communities like Prince William, Alexandria, Fairfax, Stafford, etc. The clinics offer medical services suitable to all members of a family like pediatric urgent care for kids and other urgent care services for all adults. The treatments include a wide range of illnesses, injuries, and other similar medical needs.  

The afterhours clinic Alexandria VA treatments and services are offered for colds, sinuses, flu, cough, cold sores, allergies, fever, ear ache and wax removal, tooth abscess, breathing treatment and body pains. Tests are done for urinary tract infections, kidney stones, rashes, skin issues, chicken pox, sties, pink eye, STDs, and minor infections. They also extend their treatment to provide relief to back pains, joint pains, cuts, bruises, sprains, headache, dizziness, migraine, vomiting, stomach cramps, and many other similar medical problems. Children especially infants and kids are prone to sudden illnesses. They may need medical attention at odd hours.

The afterhours clinic Alexandria VA services do not include treatment for conditions that are related to sever accidents or high burns to the body and fracture cases.  Patients just can walk into the clinic without any prior appointment and one of the specialists in the clinic will attend to them in a span of 15-20 minutes. 

The afterhours clinic Alexandria VA is well equipped with the right medical kits and tools that are needed for tests and treatments. 

Urgent Care Alexandria VA - For Minor Bruises, Illnesses

Even when your medical condition is not severe you still want to be able to receive urgent care Alexandria VA, especially if your regular physician is not available. From nicks and scrapes that can turn infectious to animal bites, pain, and swelling there are a lot of things you want looked at, even if you feel they are not going to be severely damaging. Also, for people suffering allergies or flu the symptoms can be discomforting enough to need medical attention. When you are ill and weak, it helps to know that a doctor has checked you. Whether your illness turns out to be minor or a symptom of a deeper disorder, you can only be sure by having a doctor examine you. You can receive medical attention at an urgent care walk in clinic.

Nausea and vomiting

These symptoms could signal many diseases, or might have a minor cause. You could also be suffering from diarrhea, so you want to find urgent care Alexandria VA.  Having no waiting time ensures that you receive attention soon and you can, if possible, prevent taking a day off from work or school.  If you also have a fever, you might be carrying an infection and it is best to let a doctor look at it. 

Small injuries

Small injuries, given time, would heal on their own. However, if proper care is not taken, they may snowball into something more serious, like infection. Also, injuries would need you to take time off from work or school, and this is not something you would want. If your injuries are tended to by a doctor, there is a chance that you can recover faster. Also, the pain and discomfort can be more easily managed. From treating cuts and wounds, to offering testing for diseases, and even offering routine immunization, there are a lot of roles that a clinic offering urgent care Alexandria VA performs.

DC Provides Immediate and Primary Care Through Urgent Care Clinics

According to a survey, less than 30 per cent of primary care physicians provide after-hours medical care. So, where do you go if you suffer a sudden asthma attack? Whom do you consult when you are bitten by a wasp or had a fall that injured your foot badly? Citizens of DC can get immediate and primary care at an urgent care clinic. 

What are these clinics?

These are health care centers devoted to providing urgent and comprehensive medical care to patients who walk in. Their motto is to treat patients in the quickest and the most efficient manner possible. The maximum waiting time at a typical urgent care clinic is 30 minutes. VIP care entitles you to enter the physician’s room straightaway.

These clinics are a boon for busy professionals. They can visit a nearby clinic during lunch break and take a treatment or get themselves tested. Sometimes, due to lack of time, people postpone undergoing tests like kidney panel, cholesterol panel, or even STD testing. They don’t wish to take leave from workplace to wait for long hours at a hospital. 

Urgent care clinics at DC have changed immediate and primary care scenario. Now, you need not postpone any medical test. Do them now. It is unwise to delay a health issue. 

Excellent health care at a smaller fee and shorter waiting period

This is what you get at an urgent care center anywhere in the United States. Why spend more money when you can get the same quality health care and advice from physicians at urgent care VA center at a smaller fee?

Moreover, at times of medical emergencies like a panic attack, sudden chest pain, fall or injury, it is not always possible to visit a hospital. You can rush to a nearby urgent health care center in DC and get immediate and primary care.