The Differences Between A Medical Clinic, A Pop-Up Urgent Clinic, And A Full-Service Medical Clinic
With all of the options available to you to see a doctor or Physician's Assistant or a Nurse Practitioner, a lot of different clinic options have popped up, too. Where will you go for a physical exam, a health scare, a broken ankle, or ongoing pain? You could go to a pop-up urgent clinic, a medical clinic, or a full-service medical clinic. Here are those three options and what makes them different from each other.
The Pop-Up Clinic
This clinic is one- or two-person "show" in a public place where a qualified and licensed medical professional examines you and another person acts as an intake worker. Sometimes just the licensed medical professional operates the clinic, which is usually inside a trailer or bus used for medical purposes (e.g., a "blood-mobile"). The pop-up clinic only handles minor contagious diseases and physical complaints that are not likely to involve broken bones. You may also get a physical exam to play team sports or just to get your annual health exam out of the way. The pop-up clinic may be located in one place one day and in another place the next, traveling several miles and making dozens of stops everywhere all year long.
The Medical Clinic
This is a relatively stationary clinic, but it only serves a specific area or a specific demographic. It can handle more serious illnesses and blood tests, and it may even conduct X-rays to see if a bone is broken. However, if you do have a serious internal injury, illness, or broken bone, this clinic may not be equipped to address your healthcare and medical needs. The doctor, NP, or PA may refer you to a full-service medical clinic or a hospital, depending on the severity of your issue.
Full-Service Medical Clinic
This type of clinic provides services to everyone, regardless of age, race, etc. In most cases, they also take any insurance. If you come in with a broken bone, severe illness, or severe internal injury (e.g., a concussion or a few broken ribs that are bruising your lungs), this clinic can manage those cases without sending you somewhere else. Some inpatient surgeries are also possible, such as cauterizing broken blood vessels in your nose, stitching up cuts and lacerations, and performing vasectomies. Dozens of different lab tests are also available so that you do not have to go to a hospital or a testing facility.
For more information, contact a medical clinic near you.