Does Urgent Care Take Walk-Ins? What to Know Before You Go

Do I need an appointment at urgent care?

No, an appointment is not required at the vast majority of urgent care centers. Urgent care was built for same-day, unscheduled care — illnesses and injuries that cannot wait for a primary care appointment but do not require an emergency room.

In 2019, roughly 29 percent of U.S. adults reported one or more visits to an urgent care center or retail health clinic in the past 12 months, reflecting how central these facilities have become to routine acute care access 1Ref 1Black LI, Adjaye-Gbewonyo D (2021).Urgent Care Center and Retail Health Clinic Utilization Among Adults: United States, 2019.In 2019, 29.2% of US adults had one or more urgent care or retail clinic visits in the past 12 months; utilization was higher in women and younger adults. That said, many clinics now offer online check-in through their website or app. Using it does not mean you are booking a scheduled appointment in the traditional sense — it reserves a place in the queue so that your wait begins before you walk through the door.

When is it worth calling ahead?

Calling ahead is worth a few minutes if:

• You want to confirm the clinic is open and seeing patients (hours vary by location and day)
• You need a specific service that not all clinics offer — STI testing, IV fluids, X-ray, suturing, splinting, or a specific type of occupational health exam
• You are bringing a child and want to confirm the clinic sees pediatric patients (some urgent care locations do not)
• Wait times are long and you want to know whether to drive to an alternate location

Urgent care centers typically offer immunizations, laboratory tests, X-rays, fracture and laceration care, and intravenous fluids — but capabilities vary by location 2Ref 2Allen L, Cummings JR, Hockenberry JM (2021).The impact of urgent care centers on nonemergent emergency department visits.Urgent care centers offer immunizations, labs, X-rays, laceration and fracture care, and IV fluids; their availability reduced total ED visits by 17.2% and nonemergent visits by 27%.

What conditions is urgent care designed for?

Urgent care is the right destination for conditions that are real but not life-threatening:

• Fevers, flu, strep throat, ear infections, sinus infections
• Minor cuts that may need stitches
• Sprains, strains, and suspected minor fractures
• Urinary tract infections
• Rashes and skin infections
• COVID-19 testing, rapid strep, rapid flu
• Simple medication refills when your regular provider is unavailable

For chest pain, difficulty breathing, stroke symptoms, severe abdominal pain, or significant head injury, the emergency room is the right place. When urgent care centers are available, their presence reduces nonemergent ED visits — one study found availability reduced total ED visits by 17.2% 2Ref 2Allen L, Cummings JR, Hockenberry JM (2021).The impact of urgent care centers on nonemergent emergency department visits.Urgent care centers offer immunizations, labs, X-rays, laceration and fracture care, and IV fluids; their availability reduced total ED visits by 17.2% and nonemergent visits by 27%.

What about Gale for non-urgent needs?

If your concern is not urgent, a Gale primary care visit — available as a same-day or next-day appointment — may be a better fit. Gale clinicians can handle most of the same conditions as urgent care and have the added advantage of knowing your history. For follow-up care after an urgent care visit, scheduling with your Gale provider ensures continuity.