It seems like almost every day we encounter one health issue or another. Some are minor, others are severe, but most tend to fall into a seemingly gray area. The first thought most people have is to visit the emergency room, even though most of these ailments are far from emergencies.

There are plenty of reasons people come up with to go to the emergency room. One of the most common is fear of the unknown. It can be scary for new parents when their child gets sick. They figure better safe than sorry, so off to the emergency room they go. However, the average child can get 6 to 10 colds every year. That can make for some pretty high medical bills for a pretty minor condition. Another reason people choose emergency rooms is their condition was not severe enough to be admitted into a hospital and the office of their normal physician was not open. This can apply to as much as 48 percent of ER patients.

However, there is an alternative to the excessive medical bills and long wait times that come with visits to the emergency room. The medical community has established urgent care facilities to deal with the plethora of non life threatening issues people encounter every day. The Rand Corporation conducted a study in 2010 that found nearly 1 in 5 patients who visit the ER could find proper treatment at a 24 urgent care facility instead. Doing so would save $4.4 billion in health care costs every year, which trickles down to lessen the bills of people who genuinely need emergency room services. These medical centers act as walk in doctors offices, so even without an appointment you can come for the treatment you need and not have to wait several hours to receive it.

The next time you or your child gets sick or injured, consider very seriously if their life is actually in danger. It is most often the case that there is nothing serious to worry about. In the interest of saving time, money, and grief, visit your local 24 urgent care center to get the treatment you need instead of adding to the already overcrowded emergency room. For more information, read this website.