Risks of Seeking Medical Treatment at Florida Urgent Care Centers

An urgent care center is an affordable, quick, and convenient option when seeking medical care for a condition that is serious, but not life-threatening enough to head to the emergency room. Plus, these facilities are very accessible no matter where you live, with a location on almost every corner around South Florida. However, some of the reasons that lead you to choose an urgent care center over a hospital are also the very same factors that can present a risk of harm to patients. The unique environment offers a prime setting for errors and negligent acts by health care providers.

Fortunately, urgent care centers are subject to the same laws and regulations that apply to hospitals and clinics – which means you may have remedies under medical malpractice laws if you suffered harm. Still, these cases are extremely complicated, making it essential to retain a Florida medical facility malpractice lawyer for assistance. An overview on mistakes at urgent care centers may help you understand the basics.

Common Types of Medical Negligence at Urgent Care Centers: A facility that provides medical treatment on an on-demand basis bears characteristics of both a medical office and a hospital emergency room; in a sense, the risk of being harmed at an urgent care center is double because the potential for mistakes is expanded. Another factor that may increase the possibility for medical malpractice is that walk-ins typically present without their medical records, a critical source of information that health care providers draw from when diagnosing and treating patients.

As a result of these and related issues, there are certain forms of negligence that occur frequently in urgent care facilities, such as:

• Diagnosis errors;
• Mistakes in administering and prescribing medications;
• Delays in providing treatment;
• Surgical errors;
• Releasing patients too soon; and
• Clerical and administrative errors.
  

Tips for Seeking Care at an Urgent Care Center: Though the specifics of your care are in the hands of your treating physicians, there are some things you can do to protect yourself as a patient at a walk-in clinic:

• Know when it is appropriate to visit an urgent care center instead of a hospital or your primary care physician. These facilities are intended to fill the gap if you cannot get into your doctor right away, but need same-day care.
• You should head to an emergency room if you are bleeding excessively, having trouble breathing, losing consciousness, developing memory loss, or suffering from other life-threatening conditions.
• Whenever possible, choose an urgent care facility that is affiliated with your primary care physician’s practice.
• Provide details about your health history, medical conditions, current medications, and allergies to the physician treating you.
• Follow up with your primary doctor as soon as possible after being treated.

Our Florida Medical Facility Negligence Attorneys Can Advise You 

If you were harmed because of negligence at an urgent care center, it is essential to retain experienced legal counsel right away. At Freidin Brown, P.A., our Miami hospital error lawyers are prepared to fight for your rights, so please contact our offices to set up a free consultation today.