OC Urgent Care FAQs

Many people have never sought care from an urgent care facility, instead visiting emergency departments or primary physicians for healthcare needs. But OC Urgent Care exists to make patient care more accessible for non-life threatening injuries and illnesses. We know you may have several questions about urgent care and what you can expect during a visit to our office. We’ve highlighted some of our most frequently asked questions below, though we encourage you to contact us with any additional questions you may have.

What is Urgent Care?

Urgent care is convenient and professional care for conditions that require quick medical attention, but are not life threatening. Urgent care meets the patient demands of convenience and efficiency while delivering safe, high quality, cost effective medical care.

An urgent care center serves as an alternative to the hospital emergency department and your personal physician when a timely appointment is not available. Urgent care is appropriate for injuries too severe to be treated in a primary care physician office but not severe enough to require treatment in a hospital emergency department. Think of urgent care for general illnesses and/or minor injuries such as flu, colds, sore throats, fever, upset stomachs, asthma, ear infections, urinary tract infections, rashes, dehydration, cuts, broken bones, sprains, burns, back pain, and animal/insect bites.

• Value - Urgent Care provides quality medical care with significant cost savings to patients, employers and insurance companies over the alternative of the hospital emergency department or hospital based "fast track/urgent care" unit.
• Convenience - Most urgent care centers provide services on a "walk in basis" and offer extended hours in the evenings and on weekends allowing you to get medical care on your schedule.
• Continuity of Care - With patient approval, the doctor notes and any test results from your visit at Accent Urgent Care will be sent to your personal physician

When is Urgent Care appropriate?

OC Urgent Care does not take the place of an emergency room or primary care physician – we merely alleviate the burden on these facilities and their patients by treating minor emergency conditions. We encourage you to visit OC Urgent Care when you need priority medical attention but do not wish to wait several days to see your primary physician.

We can treat most non-life threatening illnesses and injuries in both adults and children, as well as provide basic medical needs, such as examinations and vaccinations if you do not already have a primary care provider. OC Urgent Care is much more cost-efficient than a visit to the ER and provides fast, reliable treatment for both residents and non-residents.

When to use the Emergency Room

If you are facing a life threatening situation call 911 or go directly to the nearest hospital emergency room. These are life-threatening, critical conditions that require advanced medical attention:

• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Head trauma
• Severe abdominal pain
• Sudden dizziness, weakness or loss of coordination or balance
• Sudden blurred vision or loss of vision
• Bleeding that won’t stop
• Loss of consciousness.

 

What types of conditions do you treat at OC Urgent Care?

We treat adults and children with non-life threatening injuries and illnesses. Examples include:

• Minor burns
• Fractures
• Sore throats
• Earaches
• Common cold
• Allergies
• Open wounds
• And more!

OC Urgent Care can also provide preventative care for patients who do not have a primary care physician or do not wish to wait for an appointment. Stop by our office for your annual flu shot, travel vaccinations, sports physicals or even a general wellness exam. Click here for a full list of our urgent care services.

What information should I bring with me to OC Urgent Care?

To make your visit easier, we’ve put together a list of things you may need for your visit:

• Your current insurance card
• A photo ID
• A list of current medications
• An “Authorization to Treat” form signed by a minor’s parent/legal guardian who is not your child.

Why choose Urgent Care over the Emergency Room?

OC Urgent Care is a time and cost efficient alternative to visiting the emergency room for patients with non-life threatening health conditions. The emergency room is equipped to handle medical problems on any scale, from minor to major. However, the majority of visits to American ERs are non-life threatening and could be more appropriately handled by an urgent care facility. Not only does this alleviate the burden on emergency rooms, but it also provides shorter wait times and lower medical bills for patients. For questions about the types of conditions we treat, please click here or call us at 714-694-2001.

Do not visit OC Urgent Care for life-threatening emergencies. If you are experiencing chest pain, symptoms of stroke, hemorrhaging, seizures, or some other emergency condition, visit a hospital ER or dial 9-1-1 immediately.

Do I need to make an appointment to see a physician at OC Urgent Care?

OC Urgent Care is open to all patients without an appointment. We accept walk-ins all day, every day – 7 days a week. We deliver first-rate care and can see you today, whether early or late.

Do you accept insurance?

We know that many of our patients have health insurance. For your convenience, we accept most major medical insurance plans.

I don’t have health insurance. Can I still visit OC Urgent Care?

Of course! Getting medical care should be accessible for everyone, whether they have insurance coverage or not. We have many affordable payment options for patients without health coverage. For more information, feel free to contact OC Urgent Care.

What are your business hours?

Minor emergencies are not confined to normal business hours – they can happen anytime. All of our offices are open 10 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday and 10 am to 6 pm on weekends. Hours of operation may vary on public holidays.*Hours for Huntington Beach South and Foothill Ranch location changed to 8 AM-8 PM, 7 days a week.*

English is not my preferred language. Is your staff bilingual?

We have several bilingual and multilingual staff members who will be on hand to assist you.

Will you treat my children?

It’s not always easy to get an appointment with your child’s pediatrician. If your son or daughter becomes ill or sustains an injury, get treatment as quickly as possible by visiting OC Urgent Care. Our providers are trained and certified to treat patients of all ages, including infants over 8 weeks old.

What types of preventative services do you offer?

Preventative care is an important part of staying healthy. We offer many basic wellness services, including vaccinations, sports physicals, and general wellness exams, blood pressure monitoring, as well as other services.

Can I go to OC Urgent Care if I get injured while at work?

We accept all walk in patients for any form of immediate and non-life threatening medical care. We also provide Occupational Medicine and treat worker’s compensation patients.

For more information, feel free to contact OC Urgent Care.

 

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