Walk-In Clinic FAQ
What is a Walk-in Clinic?
The purpose of a walk-in clinic is to complement the care you receive from your primary care provider by offering same-day care when your regular provider is not available. A walk-in clinic provides high-quality medical care for common, non-life-threatening conditions in people of all ages.
What services are provided it the Walk-in Clinics?
Clinic providers treat people ages 6 months and older for medical conditions that need care right away, but are not life-threatening. The clinics also offer diagnostic services like X-ray and simple blood and urine tests. They also provide school and sports physicals, however Medicaid cannot be billed for any physicals. Walk-in clinics are not intended to treat chronic conditions or serious medical conditions. Patients who appear with severe symptoms will be referred to the Emergency Department.
Walk-in clinic personnel often treat:
• Common, non-life-threatening illnesses in children and adults
• Cold and flu
• Minor cuts or lacerations needing stitches
• Sprains, strains and simple fractures
• Earaches, sore throats and coughs
• Bladder infections
• Asthma and similar conditions that require breathing treatments
When should a person head straight to the Emergency Department?
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, then we encourage you to go straight to the Emergency Department:
• Chest pain
• Stroke-like symptoms
• Shortness of breath
• Severe abdominal pain
• Severe head injury
• Sudden, severe headache
Trust your instinct. If you think it’s something serious, don’t hesitate; go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
Who will take care of me?
Skilled and friendly healthcare providers including nurse practitioners and physician assistants staff our walk-in clinics. They are trained to do about 90 percent of what family physicians do.
Is a Walk-Clinic more affordable than an Emergency Room visit?
A walk-in clinic visit is normally a lower cost choice than an Emergency Room visit. With many insurance plans, walk-in clinic patients pay co-pays that are similar to what they pay for doctor office visits.
Why is it important to have a primary care provider?
While walk-in clinics definitely provide a service, they are not a substitute for ongoing primary medical care. Rather, primary care providers can deliver ongoing medical care and maintenance to patients in a way that walk-in providers cannot. A primary care provider can refill prescriptions and manage chronic pain. Primary care providers are also best to manage complex medical conditions like hypertension and diabetes, which require ongoing monitoring and lab work. Any person who goes to a SBL walk-in clinic because he does not have a regular provider will be assisted in securing an appointment with a provider who he or she can continue to see.
Do I need an appointment?
No, people are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
How long will I have to wait?
Patients are seen as quickly as possible, with wait times based on the number of people seeking care and the seriousness of their conditions. Wait times can be viewed at www.sarahbush.org.