Urgent care facilities can typically check kidney function, offering a valuable initial assessment for patients with acute, non-life-threatening concerns. Urgent care quickly diagnoses and manages immediate health issues, acting as a bridge between primary care and the emergency room. While they possess tools for initial kidney health screening, their scope is limited to acute problems and they do not manage complex or chronic kidney diseases. Understanding the specific tests and conditions urgent care can treat helps patients make informed decisions about seeking medical attention for kidney-related symptoms.
How Urgent Care Assesses Kidney Function
Urgent care centers employ rapid diagnostic tools, primarily blood and urine analysis, to evaluate the body’s filtering system. The most common blood test is the Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP), which measures two primary waste products filtered by the kidneys. Creatinine, a waste product from muscle breakdown, is one marker; high levels suggest the kidneys are not clearing waste effectively.
The BMP also measures Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), a waste product from protein breakdown. Although BUN levels can be influenced by dehydration or diet, high BUN combined with elevated creatinine strongly indicates reduced kidney function. These results are used to calculate the Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), which approximates how quickly the kidneys are filtering blood.
A urinalysis is a standard procedure providing immediate insight into kidney and urinary tract health. This test involves a dipstick analysis and often a microscopic examination to check for signs of infection or damage. Providers look for blood, protein, and white blood cells, which can signal infection, inflammation, or kidney injury.
The presence of protein, specifically albumin, in the urine is a direct sign that the kidneys’ filtering units may be damaged. Finding white blood cells and bacteria often suggests a urinary tract infection (UTI), which can potentially spread to the kidneys. These quick, in-house tests allow urgent care to swiftly screen for acute kidney problems and guide the treatment plan.
Kidney-Related Issues Treated at Urgent Care
Urgent care is well-equipped to handle a range of acute, uncomplicated issues affecting the urinary tract and kidneys. A common presentation is a mild urinary tract infection (UTI) that has not progressed to a severe kidney infection. Providers diagnose these infections using a urinalysis and prescribe oral antibiotics.
Urgent care also manages mild, acute flank pain potentially caused by a small kidney stone. Centers can offer pain management and diagnostic imaging, such as an X-ray or ultrasound, to determine the stone’s size and location. If the stone is small and the pain is manageable, the goal is typically to facilitate its natural passage.
The facility can treat minor dehydration, which temporarily stresses the kidneys, by administering intravenous (IV) fluids. Urgent care does not manage chronic conditions, such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or complex, recurrent stone formation. Patients presenting with complex kidney issues are stabilized and referred to a nephrologist or urologist for specialized follow-up care.
Symptoms Requiring Emergency Care
For certain severe symptoms, the comprehensive resources of an emergency room (ER) are required immediately. Urgent care is not appropriate if symptoms indicate a severe infection or a blockage, as these conditions may be life-threatening. Such situations require hospital-level care, including advanced imaging, specialized surgery, and intensive monitoring.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek immediate emergency medical attention:
- Severe, Unrelenting Pain: Excruciating pain in the back or side that is not controlled by medication.
- High Fever and Chills: A fever above 101°F combined with shaking chills or severe flank pain can signal a systemic kidney infection (pyelonephritis) requiring intravenous antibiotics.
- Inability to Urinate: A sudden and complete lack of urine output may indicate a total urinary blockage, which can rapidly damage the kidneys.
- Confusion or Altered Mental State: New lethargy, disorientation, or confusion can be a sign of severe infection (sepsis) or a dangerous buildup of toxins in the blood.
- Persistent Vomiting: Nausea and vomiting that prevent you from keeping down fluids can lead to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, demanding prompt IV treatment.
- Difficulty Breathing or Severe Swelling: Sudden shortness of breath or pronounced swelling in the legs, ankles, or face may indicate severe fluid overload from kidney failure.