The What's And When's Of Medical Same Day Appointments

What are medical same-day appointments and when should you choose this option? Gone are the days when you had to call weeks or months ahead of time just to schedule a visit with a doctor. Instead of long wait times, you can now enjoy the convenience of same-day appointments. If you're not sure whether this service is the right choice for you, take a look at the top questions patients have answered.

Are Same-Day Services Different Than Traditional Doctor's Office Appointments? 

The answer to this question is yes—and no. Both healthcare options include physical exams, question and answer components, a diagnosis, and recommended treatments. These types of medical services may also include a wellness-visit examination, vaccinations, and some types of screenings. 

Even though same-day and standard medical office appointments have some similarities, these visits do differ. The primary differences include where you can find each type of service and how (or when) you schedule an appointment. 

Same-day services are available from urgent care clinics, community-based walk-in clinics, some doctor's offices (often during special or set hours), and some hospitals/hospital-based clinics. Instead of scheduling these types of appointments, you may have the option to just show up. If the clinic is located inside of a doctor's office or hospital, you may need to call ahead to schedule your same-day visit.

Traditional medical appointments (non-same-day) are common doctor's office visits. While it is sometimes possible to get an appointment on the same day that you call the office, it isn't a guarantee. It's possible the doctor may have an opening or may offer to fit you in—especially if you are sick or have a potentially serious concern. But you may need to schedule your visit for the next day or later in the week. 

When Should You Choose A Same Day Healthcare Service?

There are a few different reasons to seek medical care—new symptoms of an illness, chronic symptoms, emergency issues, general well-visits, school/work/sports physicals. If you have a medical emergency such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, a high fever, severe pain, a deep wound, a serious burn, or anything else that is concerning, you need emergency room (hospital) care.

You can visit either a walk-in/same-day clinic or a doctor's office for less serious symptoms, such as nasal congestion, a mild cough, a sore throat, nausea, or earache. If you have constant discomfort, don't want to wait until the next day or longer for a diagnosis, or think that you may need to start treatment (such as an antibiotic) as soon as possible, you need a same-day appointment.

For more information on medical same-day appointments, contact a professional near you.