Common Injuries That Can Be Treated at Our Urgent Care Center in Tampa, FL

Injured child on a playground holding his painful knee

If you are injured in the evening, on a weekend, or otherwise outside of the “normal” business hours kept by many doctors’ offices, you might think an emergency room visit is your only option. Not so! The capable and compassionate team at South Tampa Immediate Care provides diagnostic and treatment services for many common injuries on a walk-in basis. Our reliable urgent care center in Tampa, Florida, is open every day during extended hours, so you can count on us to provide excellent medical care at your convenience.

With all of that said, our urgent care center is not equipped to handle life-threatening emergencies and is not a replacement for an ER. Read on to learn the difference.

When Should You Call 911 or Go Directly to an ER?

A life-threatening injury should always be treated immediately at the nearest hospital emergency room. Some examples include:

  • A wound that is bleeding uncontrollably
  • Head, neck, or spine trauma
  • A broken bone that has pierced the skin
  • A snake bite
  • Heatstroke
  • A chemical burn or any burn that is larger than 3 inches in diameter

When Is It Safe to Go to an Urgent Care Center?

You can come directly to South Tampa Immediate Care if you have an injury that does not qualify as a true emergency but still requires prompt medical attention. Some examples include:

  • A first-degree burn, such as a moderate sunburn
  • A cut, scrape, abrasion, or wound that needs stitches
  • A sprain or strain
  • A minor bone fracture
  • A controlled nosebleed
  • An insect bite

For many common injuries like these, it is more appropriate to seek treatment at an urgent care center instead of an ER. Not only will you be seen more quickly but you will also save money. On the whole, insurance copayments for services received in an ER are much higher than those for the same services received in an urgent care setting.

As a general rule of thumb, if your injury could be treated by your primary care provider (if he or she were available), then it can be treated at our urgent care center. To learn more, contact or visit South Tampa Immediate Care in Tampa, FL, today.