Hospital vs. Outpatient Clinic: What’s Better for Your Injury?

You’ve sustained an injury. Where do you go? Your first thoughts might be that you need to head straight to the ER to get the treatment and care you obviously need. But is that always the right decision? Do you need emergency treatment, or is going to urgent care near me going to help you out, too?

It’s important to understand that you have options when you need medical attention, and the ER isn’t always the best or optimal choice for your injury, specifically, an orthopedic injury. 

Whether you’ve sprained your ankle in a weekend basketball game, fallen on your wrist awkwardly during gymnastics, or sustained a broken bone from a bicycle and car collision, there are choices.  You can visit an ortho clinic like DOC, head straight to the ER for the care you need, or even conduct self-care at home for minor sprains and strains. And making the right choice can be the difference between your recovery time, the treatment you receive, and how much it will cost you.

Let’s get into it.

When The ER Is Essential

While Direct Orthopedic Care can treat orthopedic injury, Austin, TX without the long wait times like in many ERs across the country, there are times when going straight to the emergency room is the right call.

Life-threatening situations or multiple serious injuries necessitate emergency care to give you the best treatment and outcome for your circumstances.

Visit to the ER if:

• You have been in a major traumatic incident or have multiple injuries, for example, head injuries, as well as broken bones.
• If your broken bones are puncturing the skin, you’re experiencing massive amounts of blood loss, or you’re losing consciousness, you need emergency treatment.
• If you’re displaying signs of a spine injury, having trouble breathing, or severe pain in your abdomen or head, this is an emergency, and the ER is the best place for you.

The ER is equipped to handle more serious and life-threatening injuries and deliver immediate care and treatments in situations where seconds matter. On top of this, they have access to full surgical teams, advanced imaging, and equipment.

Ortho clinics aren’t equipped the same as emergency rooms, and while outpatient clinics have state-of-the-art equipment and care, for life-threatening emergencies, your best port of call is the emergency room or calling 911 if applicable.

Why Orthopedic Urgent Care Near Me Might Be Better for Most Injuries

In reality, many orthopedic injuries aren’t life-threatening.

That sprained ankle you’ve sustained from running after the kids and tripping over it isn’t going to need emergency care like a protruding broken bone will. And heading to the ER for this type of injury can result in long waiting times, a hefty bill, and ultimately a referral to an orthopedic clinic, regardless. So why put yourself through that?

Cut out the middle man and go right to our ortho clinic for your orthopedic injury in Dallas, TX.

Direct Orthopedic Care clinics in Austin, TX, and Dallas, TX, are designed exactly for these situations – walk-in access to orthopedic care and specialists without the delays and extra costs associated with emergency room treatment and care.

What Makes DOC Different?

At DOC, we do things differently. We’re here to help you with all of your orthopedic healthcare needs.

We treat a range of different ailments, including:

• Sprains
• Strains
• Fractures
• Breaks
• Ligament injuries
• Tendonitis
• Arthritis and more

It’s not just limbs we treat, either; we can help you with your pain and injuries sustained in the following parts of your body including

• Head 
• Neck
• Hips
• Shoulder
• Arm 
• Elbow
• Leg
• Hand
• Wrist
• Knee
• Foot
• Ankle

Immediately See an Orthopedic Specialist 

At DOC, you won’t see a general doctor first to get the right treatment for your ortho injury. Instead, you’ll see an orthopedic specialist right away. All our specialists are board-certified, fellowship-trained professionals who are skilled in treating your bone, joint, and muscle concerns. This means no waiting, no referrals, just seeing the person you need to see right from the beginning.

Shorter Waiting Times

Let’s be honest. When you’re hurt and injured, the last thing you want to do is wait in a crowded and busy room until it is your turn.

Coming to DOC for your orthopedic injury in Austin, TX, means you get seen faster. You walk in, you’re seen, and you’re on the road to recovery, typically in under an hour.

Lower Costs

Everyone knows that ERs are expensive. However, if you have an orthopedic injury and need urgent care near me, you can bypass the ER and pay urgent care rates, not hospital rates.

These rates can often save you up to 80% on your medical bills compared to the ER. We also accept self-pay patients and insurance that covers medical bills.

All Ortho Care Under One Roof

If the thought of having to come back or go to a different facility for ongoing ortho care isn’t for you, at DOC, we take care of it all under one roof. From the moment you walk in until your recovery is complete, or further, if you have ongoing chronic pain or a condition like arthritis, we can take care of X-rays, splinting, physiotherapy, and more, all on site. We treat you, devise your treatment plan moving forward, and execute everything in-house. 

Open Every Day

Injuries don’t just happen 9-5 Monday or Friday. Our urgent care centers are open 7 days a week for your convenience. We even offer Telehealth options for those who cannot make it to the clinic or need our help out of hours for non-emergencies, ie, sprains.

Choose DOC For Your Next Visit

You don’t always need emergency care for orthopedic injuries or related health issues.

While you absolutely should go to see a doctor for serious conditions, like if you have been in a car accident or have multiple injuries or for any other condition that is not life-threatening, you can receive the care you need at DOC.

We’re here for your falls, sprains, dislocations, and other isolated orthopedic injuries.

If you’re in pain right now and you need urgent care near me, for your orthopedic injury we can help. Contact us today or book an appointment, and we can help you out immediately.