Which country are you in and what’s a typical doctor visit like? How much? Wait time? Etc
I call my Dr.
I book an appointment. If urgent but not medically urgent to my immediate wellbeing I can get in in a week or so.
If urgent, but not emergency, I can go to a clinic or the hospital non emergency (hospital can have wait times up to several hours)
If emergency and severe or traumatic injury or life threatening - emergency at hospital. Triage assesses need. Last time I had to take someone it was maybe a 20 minute wait - they had been hurt pretty bad - got jumped.
None of any of the above will cost me any money.
An ambulance, though, costs like 75$ if it is not life threatening.
Canada.
The hospitals usually have a severity for triage. If you broke your arm your going to be waiting longer than someone with a sever allergic reaction. Which makes sense, some injuries can wait longer than others.
That part is normal in US emergency rooms as well.
Because, logic.
But since money interferes with logic in so many ways it seemed necessary to mention it.
Sorry. The “money” part didn’t actually factor in for me because I’m in Canada and it wasn’t on my mind. Doesn’t mean we don’t pay for it through taxes I just mean it wasn’t on my mind. I just meant greater severity should equal earlier service.
I think your definition of “urgent” might be off if you think that it can wait a week or so.
“Emergency” and “urgent” are different categories in hospitals.
And actually defined, at least in my local Canadian hospital.
Urgent Care is defined as infections, lacerations, wounds, less serious injuries, minor Pediatric illness, situational crisis support, Women’s Health services, contraceptive management, etc. So stuff that “could” wait about a week if necessary. I find they can get to stuff much sooner, based on anything I’ve needed or reports from friends and family.
