Yes. Many urgent care clinics have X-ray on site, and Maxem Health is one of them. What matters more is knowing what an X-ray will answer for you and what it will not, because that determines whether urgent care is the right stop at all.
X-ray at Maxem Health
Maxem Health clinics offer on-site X-ray, so a suspected fracture is imaged and read during the same visit rather than becoming a referral to a hospital radiology department the next day. Simple fractures, splinting and crutch training are all handled in-clinic as part of injury care.
For self-pay patients, X-rays are among the services included in the Maxem Health Discount Program.
What an X-ray actually shows
X-rays image dense tissue well and soft tissue poorly. That one fact explains nearly every question people have about them.
An X-ray is good at showing:
- Broken bones, including hairline fractures
- Dislocations
- Foreign objects such as glass or metal
- Some lung problems, including pneumonia on a chest X-ray
An X-ray will not show:
- Torn ligaments or tendons. A badly sprained ankle and a fractured ankle can look identical on the outside, and the X-ray is what tells them apart, by ruling the fracture out, not by showing the tear.
- Cartilage damage
- Most soft tissue injuries, which need ultrasound or MRI
- Bleeding inside the skull. Head injuries need CT imaging at a hospital.
This is why a clinic can X-ray your ankle, tell you nothing is broken, and still diagnose a serious sprain. The imaging and the diagnosis are doing different jobs.
What the visit looks like
A provider examines the injury first and decides whether imaging will change the plan. If it will, the X-ray is taken in the clinic and reviewed the same visit. If it shows a simple fracture, Maxem can splint it and fit crutches on site. If it shows something that needs an orthopaedic surgeon, you leave with the images and a referral rather than starting over elsewhere.
Tell the staff if you are pregnant or might be, before any imaging.
When to skip urgent care and go to the ER
X-ray at urgent care is for injuries that are not emergencies. Go to the emergency room or call 9-1-1 for:
- Life-threatening conditions
- Heart attack or stroke
- Open fractures
- Severe bleeding
- Chest pain
- Head injury or other major trauma
- One-sided weakness or numbness
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe abdominal pain
If you are experiencing any of these, call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not drive yourself.
What it costs
With insurance, an X-ray at urgent care is billed to your plan. Maxem Health accepts most major plans. Without insurance, X-rays are covered under the Discount Program’s flat per-visit co-pay rather than billed separately.
Frequently asked questions
Does every urgent care do X-rays?
No. On-site X-ray is common but not universal, and it is worth confirming before you drive over. Maxem Health lists X-ray among its on-site diagnostic services.
Do X-rays show torn ligaments?
No. Ligaments are soft tissue and do not appear on an X-ray. The X-ray rules out a fracture, and the provider diagnoses the sprain by examination. A confirmed tear usually needs MRI.
How long does an urgent care X-ray take?
The imaging itself takes minutes. Because Maxem reads it in-clinic, it does not add a separate appointment. Most patients are seen in under 30 minutes overall.
Can urgent care do a CT scan or MRI?
Maxem Health does not offer CT or MRI. Those are hospital and imaging-centre services. If your injury needs either, you will be referred.
Walk in at a Maxem Health clinic
Maxem Health Urgent Care has 15 clinics across Mississippi, Louisiana and Oregon, open seven days a week including holidays. Most clinics run Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 6pm, though hours vary by location. No appointment needed. Walk in, or save your spot online before you leave the house.
Save your spot at your nearest Maxem Health clinic, or find clinic addresses and hours.
This article is general health information, not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed provider. If you are worried about your symptoms, get seen.