Do I Need an Appointment for Urgent Care?

We know life happens — sometimes unexpectedly. Whether it’s a sprained ankle on a Saturday afternoon or a fever that spikes after your primary care provider’s office has closed, urgent care is your source for convenient care on your schedule.

Unlike a traditional doctor’s office, urgent care centers are open every day of the week, often with extended hours into the evening, so that you can get immediate attention and treatment for non-life-threatening minor injuries and illnesses.

If you’ve never been before, you may wonder whether you need an appointment for urgent care — and you’ll be glad to know, you don’t. You can walk right in for treatment, no appointment needed, so you can get the care you need exactly when you need it.

However, some urgent care clinics do offer the option to make an appointment.

Let’s talk more about what an urgent care center can do for you without an appointment, and when scheduling ahead might be helpful.

Visiting Urgent Care Without an Appointment

Most urgent care centers provide walk-in care, allowing you to be seen by a doctor without needing to schedule an appointment.

Urgent care is specially designed to provide convenient, same-day care, making it a perfect option for when your primary care doctor’s office is closed or is fully booked for a few days.

When Making an Appointment for Urgent Care Might Be Helpful

While an appointment to visit urgent care is not necessary, some urgent care centers do allow you to schedule appointments or make reservations.

At AdventHealth Centra Care urgent care centers, you can schedule appointments for a certain day and time that fits in your schedule. You can even schedule lab appointments or video visits through the AdventHealth app.

Consider scheduling ahead if:

• It’s a busy time of day (like during lunch or after work)
• The clinic offers online check-in or appointment slots to reduce wait time
• You have a tight schedule and want to plan ahead
• You need a vaccination, like a flu shot, outside of your primary care provider’s available hours
• You or a loved one has a possibly contagious disease, such as the flu or a stomach bug, and you don't want to infect everyone in the waiting area
• You’re bringing a child or elderly adult who may not be comfortable waiting

Online Check-In vs. Walk-In Visits

At AdventHealth Centra Care, you also have the option to check in online to let the clinic know you're on your way and be placed in the waiting queue. This saves your spot in line without being physically present.

While an online check-in is never a requirement for urgent care locations, it can help shorten your wait times significantly.

How Urgent Care Wait Times Work

When you visit an urgent care walk-in clinic, you’ll check in with the front desk staff regardless of whether you have scheduled an appointment or checked in online. This allows our team to know you’ve arrived.

While you don’t need to schedule an appointment for urgent care services, it’s important to remember that patients are usually seen in order of arrival, unless someone has more urgent symptoms or health issues.

Urgent care teams use a triage system to determine how severe each patient's symptoms and conditions are to prioritize those that may need more immediate care. For example, a patient with a broken bone might be seen before another patient who has a cold.

Walk-in wait times for urgent care always vary and are based on:

• The day of the week: weekends are usually busier than weekdays
• The number of doctors working
• The time of day: early and mid-mornings usually have shorter waiting times

Some urgent care clinics also update real-time wait times on their websites. When you use the “On My Way” tool to check in online at your local AdventHealth Centra Care, it will show you the current wait times for that location.

When to Choose Urgent Care Over the ER or Primary Care

If you or a loved one gets hurt or is suddenly not feeling well, it can sometimes be hard to determine whether or not you should go to an urgent care center or your nearest emergency room.

The easiest way to remember the difference is that an urgent care center is for urgent but non-life-threatening injuries and minor illnesses, while the emergency department is for emergencies that can be potentially life-threatening.

Visit your local urgent care for:

• Cold and flu symptoms
• Diarrhea
• Ear infections and earaches
• Insect bites or rashes
• Minor sprains, cuts or burns
• Mild allergic reactions
• Mild back or abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sore throat and strep throat testing
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Go to the ER if you have:

• Broken bones that have pierced the skin
• Chest pain or difficulty breathing
• Deep wounds with severe bleeding
• Face or eye injury
• Head injury or serious trauma
• High fever with confusion
• Large burns
• Poisoning or overdose
• Severe allergic reactions
• Symptoms of stroke

See your primary care provider if:

• It’s a chronic issue or an ongoing condition
• You need regular checkups, an annual wellness exam or medication management
• You’re not in a rush and prefer seeing your regular doctor

If you’re ever unsure about the seriousness of your symptoms, it’s always best to play it safe and head to your nearest AdventHealth emergency room for care.

Walk In or Schedule Ahead: You Have Options

Urgent care is built for fast, convenient medical attention, so you can get back to feeling your best quickly. Find your nearest AdventHealth Centra Care location today so you’re ready for when you or a loved one needs urgent care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Urgent Care Appointments

Can you make an appointment at urgent care if you have no insurance?

Yes, you can still make an appointment at urgent care even if you don’t have health insurance coverage. Most clinics offer transparent self-pay pricing.

What happens if I walk in without an appointment?

You’ll be checked in by our front office staff and seen as soon as possible, based on arrival time and urgency of your condition.

Can I call ahead instead of booking online?

Yes, AdventHealth Centra Care and many urgent care centers allow you to call and ask about current wait times or availability.

Is online check-in the same as making an appointment?

Not exactly. It saves your place in line but doesn’t guarantee a specific time slot like a traditional appointment.