The Lincoln Health Urgent Care facility on St. Andrews campus bills out as a Type B Emergency Room, even though it provides Urgent Care level of service. That’s because the St. Andrews Urgent Care operates as a “satellite” of Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta. What that billing designation means in practice is that the costs are quite a bit higher than they would be if you went to Convenient MD in Brunswick or to another stand alone Urgent Care facility.
Both Urgent Care and Emergency Room costs are much higher than those of a Primary Care office, like our Boothbay Region Health Center, which offers same day appointments for urgent health concerns.
Jane Carpenter explains how all of this works in her well-researched, recent article in the Boothbay Register, entitled: ER or Urgent Care? Check Costs and Coverage before your Visit. In that article, she points out that visits to a Primary Care Doctor’s office typically range from $100 to $200 per visit. The average cost of an Urgent Care Visit is $185. And, the cost of an ER visit (including one to St. Andrews Urgent Care) range from $650 to $2600. The patient co-pay is also typically quite a bit higher for most insurance companies.
What Services Do Urgent Care & ER Facilities Offer that Doctor’s Offices May Not?
Urgent Care facilities typically have X-Ray machines. So, if you suspect you have a broken bone, you should go to an ER or an Urgent Care facility. If you are having shortness of breath, heart attack or stroke symptoms, you need to go directly to an ER. If you have an eye injury, these can usually be treated better, at least initially, at an Urgent Care, than at your regular doctor’s office. But if you have a sore throat, stomach upset, muscle or joint pain, head-aches, flu-like symptoms, urinary tract infections, tick bites, allergies, rashes, complications of diabetes, hypertension, minor wounds or cuts, genital symptoms, go to a regular Primary Care Provider, like our Health Center. You’ll get thorough, cost-effective treatment. If you’re in pain or really uncomfortable, call and ask for a same day appointment. The chances are that we’ll be able to fit you in.