| Urgent Care |
"Urgent Care" is a term commonly used throughout the United States that some consider synonymous with "immediate care". It is important to note that there is a defined difference between these two terms. Because the words "urgent care" are potentially ambiguous and might imply a facility is equipped to handle true emergencies, the state of Illinois requires that we do not refer to our facility as an urgent care center as Michigan Avenue Immediate Care (MAIC) is not equipped to handle true emergencies. It is important to note: (a) The Emergency Medical Treatment Act requires that "no person, facility, or entity shall hold itself out to the public as an "urgent", "urgi‑", "emergi‑", or "emergent" care center or use any similar term, as defined by rule, that would give the impression that emergency medical treatment is provided by the person or entity or at the facility unless the facility is the emergency room of a facility licensed as a hospital under the Hospital Licensing Act or a facility licensed as a freestanding emergency center under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act". To read the Act in its entirety, please visit http://www.ilga.gov/LEGISLATION/ILCS/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1231&ChapAct=210%26nbs. (b) Some insurance companies will group both urgent and non-urgent care facilities under an 'Urgent Care Center' umbrella while some distinguish the two using "Urgent Care Center" and "Walk-In Clinic". Regardless of the label the insurance company assigns to our facility, insurance companies have decided that those facilities falling under the 'Urgent Care Center' or 'Walk-In Clinic' umbrellas provide complex medical care, roughly halfway between that of a regular doctor's office and that of an emergency room (not to be confused as an actual emergency room). When billing for these services provided, facilities falling under either umbrella, including Michigan Avenue Immediate Care, employ the 'S Code'. This code is a facility fee. Insurance companies recognize the variety of capabilities required and inherently higher costs that are integral for providing care in facilities such as ours. For example, we might have stretches of three hours were no patients come in, yet other stretches where 10 patients walk in during a 15-minute span. We must staff throughout each hour of the day to accommodate these peaks, leading to higher staffing ("overhead") costs on average. In addition, although we are not an emergency room, emergency procedures may arise, especially when four people may enter the clinic at the same time, of which two may be in more serious condition (i.e. someone complaining of chest pain or severe abdominal pain). This scenario requires rapid medical decision making and triage procedures, including the appropriate training of staff on how to respond to those circumstances. In summary, insurance companies have decided to compensate facilities such as ours for services rendered that fall between primary care and an emergency room. The facility code was originally created by Medicare, and subsequently adopted by private insurance companies.
In summary, MAIC is a walk-in clinic for treatment of non-emergency, non-urgent illnesses or injuries and not equipped to handle life-threatening emergencies such as auto accident victims, suspected heart attacks or strokes, loss of consciousness or severe blood loss. If an individual comes to our facility and the physician determines that their condition may potentially be life-threatening, we will dial 911 and coordinate ambulance transport to the closest emergency room. A few of the most common examples of non-urgent medical conditions that we address at our facility include sore throats, sprained ankles, sinus infections and urinary tract infections. If you do not have an emergency illness or injury, cannot wait to see your own personal/family doctor, or do not want the prolonged wait and excessive cost of an emergency room visit, we are likely your best option.
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