When you have an urgent medical issue, like a broken bone or alarming abdominal pain, you might be wondering, “Can urgent care do x-rays?” Just like emergency rooms, urgent care clinics offer digital x-rays and EKGs as well as an on-site laboratory for fast, accurate diagnosis and treatment.
According to guidelines from the Urgent Care Association of America, urgent care clinics must provide the following x-ray services:
- Chest x-ray
- C-spine
- Long bone films
- Abdomen
- Extremities (e.g., arms and legs)
What are digital x-rays?
Medical imaging (x-ray) is a noninvasive procedure that allows doctors to examine the internal structures of the body (e.g., bones, lungs, liver, bladder, kidneys, heart, stomach, and intestines). Through imaging, doctors can diagnose and monitor diseases and injuries, as well as abnormalities of organs, bones, and structures. Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care – Houma uses digital x-rays to diagnose broken bones, certain lung conditions (e.g., pneumonia) and certain abdominal conditions (e.g., kidney stones).
The major concern when it comes to x-rays is radiation exposure. While traditional x-rays are considered safe, digital x-rays produce approximately 80% less radiation. This means it’s highly unlikely you would develop issues from occasional traditional x-ray exposure, but it is even less likely with digital x-ray exposure.
Benefits of digital x-rays
Digital x-rays offer faster results and higher diagnostic accuracy over traditional x-rays, which means you can begin treatment sooner. Additional benefits of digital x-rays include:
- Less radiation
- Lower cost
- Instant access to the image
- Better image quality
- Ability to zoom as well as adjust contrast, density, sharpness, and image orientation without additional radiation exposure.
- No degradation as with film-based (traditional) x-rays
- Indefinite storage and retrieval
- No dark rooms or processing chemicals
- No human error associated with improper darkroom maintenance (e.g., chemical handling, solution replenishment, or replacement)
Benefits of getting your digital x-ray at an urgent care clinic
Now that we’ve answered the question, “Does urgent care do x-rays?” let’s talk about the benefits of getting urgent care X-ray services rather than emergency room x-ray services. Whether you think you have a broken bone or your child has swallowed something, there are several reasons you may need urgent x-ray services. However, getting an x-ray at an emergency room can be expensive.
Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care – Houma offers comprehensive care for nonlife-threatening injuries and illnesses, which means we can perform your x-ray as well as treat your condition right at the clinic, so you don’t have to go to the hospital. Here are a few additional benefits of choosing Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care – Houma for your x-ray needs:
- Convenient
Emergency rooms are crowded. When you are hurting or feeling unwell, the last thing you want to do is wait in a crowded space. While we accept walk-in appointments, you can also reserve your spot in line to shorten your wait even more. You can also fill out your paperwork ahead of time, to make the check-in process go faster. - Fast
It is our goal to provide you with excellent medical care that’s as caring and compassionate as it is fast and accurate. We want to give you the care you need as quickly as possible, so you can feel better and enjoy the rest of your day. - Affordable
Getting an x-ray done in an emergency room is expensive, especially if insurance does not help with the cost. At Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care – Houma, you’ll pay much less for the same high-quality service.
Visit Coast Urgent Care of Houma the next time you need an x-ray or other minor medical care, to avoid the hassle and high costs of the emergency room. We welcome walk-in appointments 7 days a week.