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13 Things Urgent Care Centers Won't Tell You BY MICHELLE CROUCH ILLUSTRATION BY SERGE BLOCH 1. ER or urgent care? Always head to the ER for chest pain, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing, a neurological issue such as a seizure, or a serious head trauma with loss of consciousness. 2. The next time your regular doctor says it will be months before you can get an appointment, we may be able to help. Many urgent care centers offer STD tests, school and sports physicals, adult vaccinations, Pap smears, skin allergy treatments, and more. 3. Some primary care docs don't like us because they say we skim the easy work and avoid responsibility for more complex matters. For instance, we ' ll sew up the laceration on an inebriated person, but we won't address bigger issues like alcoholism and high blood pressure. 4. Sorry, you won't save money if you come here when you really need to go to the ER. If we transfer you by ambulance to the hospital, you may be responsible for co-pays at both places, plus the ambulance ride, which can double your fee. 5. All urgent care centers are not created equal. Some can handle only basic ailments: sore throats, simple wounds, colds, and coughs; they don't have an X-ray machine or a lab. Others can take on diagnoses and tests. 6. We're happy to give you a sample of the latest drug for your treatment. But that tends to be the most expensive. Ask for a less pricey but equally effective option so you can refill your prescription with ease. 7. If I suggest a specific test or procedure, ask whether you really need it and what it will cost. To protect us from potential lawsuits, our clinic guidelines may require us to suggest various treatments even when they're not really needed. 8. If you're paying cash, don't be afraid to negotiate on price. We may be able to reduce your bill, but there has to be a reason. Some urgent care centers even have special cards you can purchase that guarantee you a discount at every single visit. 9. To save time, call to see if you can get on the waiting list before you come. Some centers will send you a text message 30 minutes before someone can see you. 10. Very few of our doctors start in urgent care. Many are burned-out ER or primary care doctors looking for less stress and easier hours. 11. Because we're partially judged by patient-satisfaction scores, we're under pressure to please. So if you want a steroid shot or an antibiotic for your cold, we'll probably give it to you, even if it's not necessary. The one thing we're stingy about? Narcotic pain medications, since we know drug dealers can sell them. 12. Even if there's a doctor on-site, you may never see him or her. Most urgent care centers are staffed with physician assistants and nurse-practitioners; typically, a doctor is consulted for complicated cases. 13. We don't have time to sanitize our waiting room after every patient. If you're coming in at the height of flu season, stay safe by asking for a mask and using the hand sanitizer we have out.