Most patients at Maxem Health are seen in under 30 minutes. Your total time in the building depends on what you came in for, since a visit that needs an X-ray or a lab result runs longer than one that does not.
Seen versus finished
Two different clocks, and mixing them up is why published wait times feel dishonest.
Time to be seen is how long before a provider examines you. At Maxem Health that is typically under 30 minutes.
Total visit time includes everything after that: testing, imaging, treatment, paperwork. A rapid strep test adds minutes. An X-ray, a reading, and a splint fitted afterwards adds considerably more.
A visit that takes 90 minutes because you needed an X-ray, a diagnosis and a splint is a fast visit. The same care split across a primary care appointment, a separate imaging referral and a follow-up would take a week.
What actually drives the wait
- Who else walked in. Urgent care is first-come, but genuinely sicker patients are prioritised. That is triage working correctly.
- Time of day. The hour after work and the hour after school are the reliable peaks.
- Day of the week. Mondays and weekends are busiest, since they absorb everything that could not get a primary care appointment.
- Season. Cold and flu season stretches every clinic.
- What your visit needs. Imaging and lab work add time, but they save you a second trip.
How to make it shorter
- Save your spot online before you leave the house. This is the single most effective thing you can do.
- Go mid-morning or mid-afternoon on a weekday if your problem can wait a few hours.
- Bring what check-in needs: photo ID, insurance card, and a list of your current medications and allergies.
- Know your dates. When symptoms started, when you last had a tetanus shot, when you last took an antibiotic.
- Consider telehealth for symptoms that do not need hands-on examination, such as cough, cold, sore throat, UTI, pink eye, rash, allergies or sinus problems.
Clinic hours
Maxem Health operates 15 clinics across Mississippi, Louisiana and Oregon, open seven days a week including holidays. Most run Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 6pm, with some variation. The Orange Grove clinic in Gulfport runs 9am to 9pm Monday to Saturday, and Ocean Springs and St. Martin run 8am to 8pm every day. Check your clinic’s page for its hours.
When to skip urgent care and go to the ER
Urgent care is for problems that are not life threatening. Go to the emergency room or call 9-1-1 if you have any of the following:
- Severe chest pain
- Severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Suspected poisoning
- Severe abdominal pain
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Confusion or change in mental status
- Sudden fainting, dizziness, numbness or weakness
- Coughing or vomiting up blood
- Injury to head or neck
- Extreme high fever
If you are experiencing any of these, call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not drive yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the wait at urgent care?
Most Maxem Health patients are seen by a provider in under 30 minutes. Total visit length depends on whether you need imaging or lab work.
Does saving my spot online guarantee a time?
It puts you in line before you arrive rather than booking a fixed appointment. Patients with more serious problems are still prioritised.
What is the least busy time to go to urgent care?
Mid-morning and mid-afternoon on a weekday. Avoid the hour after work, the hour after school, Mondays and weekends where you can.
Is urgent care faster than the emergency room?
For a non-emergency problem, almost always. An emergency room triages by severity, so a minor complaint waits behind every serious case that arrives.
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.