Frequently Asked Questions
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Medical problems develop unexpectedly. And can demand immediate attention. That's why we're here when you need us to care for life's little emergencies... sprained ankles, broken fingers, sudden fevers, minor cuts and burns. Don't spend hours in a hospital waiting room when you can walk right in to our trained team of experienced emergency medicine professionals in a clean and friendly environment.
Think of us the next time you need efficient reliable medical care!
Benefits to you:
• Seen promptly, most patients are treated and released in less than an hour.
• Open evenings and weekends, 365 days a year.
• No appointment necessary.
• Lower co-pay, less wait time!
• Sprains, strains, and fractures are x-rayed on the premises.
What is Urgent Care?
The urgent care specialty is a comparatively new hybrid in the field of ambulatory (outpatient) medicine and is part of a growing trend in this country for healthcare providers to offer more affordable alternatives to crowded hospital settings by meeting patient demands of convenience and efficiency, while delivering higher quality medical care.
No Appointment Necessary. Open Evenings and Weekends.
Studies show that fewer than 20 percent of the population even have what they could call a personal physician. Of those who do, less than 12 percent of the people who need a doctor are able to get an appointment the same day they need one.
Lack of access to the primary provider, or no relationship at all with a primary care provider are both factors which make the urgent care center an attractive alternative to scheduling an appointment with a primary care physician when episodic health care is needed.
At South Texas Urgent Care Center, our patients appreciate getting top quality medical care during our convenient hours, 365 days a year, open evenings and weekends, with no appointments necessary.
Relaxed, Healing Environment. No Long Waits.
In Uvalde County's noisy, crowded hospital emergency room, consumers with minor injuries are forced to wait for hours in discomfort while overworked medical staff focus their attention on the sickest patients – car accident/trauma injuries, stroke, heart attack victims, psychiatric patients and nursing home transfers.
According to the latest CDC survey, the average patient spends three hours in the emergency department! Recent studies show this situation is worsening. Visits to emergency rooms in the United States are up 20 percent over the past decade, even while the number of emergency departments has shrunk by 15 percent.1 During the same time period, the waiting time for non-critical visits increased by 33 percent.
Numerous studies have now shown that 70 and 80 percent of all emergency room visits are of a non-critical nature and could be handled in a less costly urgent care setting.
At South Texas Urgent Care Center, we offer a clean, comfortable and state of the art healing environment. And best of all, most patients can be seen and treated in less than an hour.
Our new facility on the corner of Ham Lane of HWY 90 in Uvalde County will offer a relaxing spa-like atmosphere and will feature an ambiance of nature through visual and musical environments - all designed to promote wellness and reduce the stress and anxiety often associated with illness and injury.
And No Inflated Emergency Room Bills!
About half of all emergency services go uncompensated, according to CMS. Who makes up the difference?
Hospitals have long been known for their practice of covering their costs for charity care and bad debt by inflating the charges for their patients who pay. In the hospital industry, this is known as "cost shifting". While it's true that the practice of cost shifting enables many uninsured individuals to receive medical care, it implicitly raises the costs of healthcare for those who are insured and those who must pay out of pocket.
At South Texas Urgent Care Center, we pledge never to raise the price of your medical care to compensate for other people who won't pay their bills!
Did you know hospital based "Fast Track" or "Urgent Care" units use the same billing system as the ER? Although they may be quicker, they offer no cost savings over traditional ER based expenses and are often three to four times the cost of an urgent care visit!
A 2001 survey identifies a shocking sixteen percent of over 4,000 hospital administrators in over 40 states said they would not use their own hospital's emergency department should they be injured!2
At South Texas Urgent Care Center, we offer safe, conscientious medical care of the non-life threatening injury or illness. We use a simple fee for service system, and our fees average from one third to one fifth the cost of an emergency room visit - with a much higher level of attention than you would receive at your local emergency room.
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