Urgent care facilities are appropriate for concerns regarding COVID-19, particularly for testing, initial assessment of mild to moderate symptoms, and accessing outpatient treatments. These centers handle non-life-threatening illnesses that require prompt attention. They are equipped to manage the initial stages of a COVID-19 infection, offering convenience and often shorter wait times compared to a hospital emergency department. Seeking care at an urgent care center helps reserve emergency room resources for people experiencing severe, life-threatening symptoms.
Services Offered at Urgent Care for COVID-19
Urgent care clinics provide diagnostic services to quickly determine if a person has a COVID-19 infection. The two main types of testing offered are rapid antigen tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Rapid antigen tests deliver results quickly, often within 15 minutes, aiding immediate diagnosis and treatment planning. PCR tests are highly accurate as they detect the virus’s genetic material, but results typically take 24 to 48 hours to process.
The visit includes a thorough clinical assessment where a healthcare provider evaluates symptom severity. This involves checking vital signs, such as heart rate and temperature, and measuring oxygen saturation levels using a pulse oximeter. Providers also listen to the patient’s lungs to detect signs of respiratory distress or secondary infection.
Following a confirmed diagnosis, the urgent care team supplies guidance on necessary isolation protocols to prevent the virus’s spread. They may also provide documentation, such as return-to-work or return-to-school notes, based on public health recommendations. This initial assessment focuses on diagnosis and stabilizing the patient for at-home recovery, not on advanced medical interventions.
Outpatient Treatment and Antiviral Access
After a positive diagnosis, urgent care clinics can facilitate access to prescription medical management for COVID-19. This often includes oral antiviral medications, such as nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (Paxlovid). Antivirals work by targeting specific viral proteins to prevent the virus from replicating, thereby reducing the risk of severe illness and hospitalization.
These treatments are reserved for patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk for progressing to severe disease due to age or underlying health conditions. Treatment must be initiated as soon as possible, generally within five days of the first appearance of symptoms, due to a strict time window for efficacy. Many urgent care centers operate under a “test-to-treat” model, allowing for diagnosis and immediate prescription of antivirals for eligible patients in a single visit.
The provider will also give recommendations for managing common symptoms using over-the-counter medications, such as fever reducers and pain relievers, along with advice on hydration and rest. Patients receive specific instructions on when to contact their primary care physician or return to urgent care if symptoms do not improve or begin to worsen.
Knowing When to Choose the Emergency Room
While urgent care manages most mild to moderate COVID-19 cases, certain severe symptoms necessitate immediate care at a hospital emergency room (ER). The ER has resources like advanced imaging, specialized equipment, and the capacity for inpatient admission that urgent care centers lack. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, especially if it occurs while at rest or makes speaking difficult.
Other severe symptoms include persistent pain or pressure felt in the chest, which can signal a serious complication. Any new onset of confusion, an inability to wake up, or difficulty staying awake also warrants an immediate ER visit. A change in skin or lip color, such as pale, gray, or blue-colored lips, nail beds, or skin, indicates dangerously low oxygen levels and requires emergency intervention.
If you experience any of these severe symptoms, call emergency services rather than driving yourself or having a friend drive you to the hospital. This ensures medical professionals can begin life-saving treatment immediately upon arrival. The ER is equipped to stabilize patients, conduct advanced diagnostics, and admit them for continuous, high-level inpatient care, which is beyond the scope of urgent care.