Urgent care is same-day medical care for problems that are too pressing to wait for a doctor’s appointment and not severe enough for an emergency room. It fills the gap between the two, which is where most of everyday illness and injury actually falls.
The short definition
An urgent care clinic is a walk-in medical facility staffed by physicians and nurse practitioners, equipped for diagnosis and treatment on the spot. No appointment. Extended hours, including weekends and holidays. On-site testing and imaging so most visits finish in one stop.
Maxem Health has run clinics on this model since 2007 and now operates 15 locations across Mississippi, Louisiana and Oregon.
What urgent care treats
Illness: sore throat and strep, colds and flu, COVID-19 testing, sinus infections, ear infections, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, pink eye, mono, rashes, allergies and asthma, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, gout, head lice, tetanus shots and TB skin tests.
Injury: simple fractures, sprains and strains, cuts and lacerations, minor burns, bruising, wound care, incision and drainage, splinting and crutch training, suture and staple removal, whiplash, and injuries from falls or car accidents.
Exams: sports and school physicals, DOT exams, pre-employment physicals, wellness exams, company exams and drug screens.
Diagnostics: on-site X-ray, EKG, urinalysis, pregnancy testing, STD testing, and rapid lab work for COVID, flu, strep, RSV, H. pylori and mono, with send-out capability for tests that need a full laboratory.
How it differs from the alternatives
Versus your primary care doctor: your doctor knows your history and manages long-term conditions, which urgent care does not replace. But primary care runs on appointments, and appointments are not available at 7pm on a Sunday. Urgent care is built for the day you cannot wait.
Versus a walk-in clinic: the terms overlap and are often used interchangeably. In practice, a retail walk-in clinic inside a pharmacy typically handles minor complaints and vaccinations, with no imaging. An urgent care clinic carries X-ray, lab and injury capability, which is why fractures and lacerations go there.
Versus the emergency room: the ER exists for life-threatening problems and is staffed and equipped accordingly. Using it for an ear infection means a long wait behind sicker patients and a much larger bill.
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.
What it costs
Maxem Health accepts most major insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, United Health Care, Tricare, Medicare and Mississippi and Louisiana Medicaid.
Without insurance, the Discount Program charges a flat per-visit co-pay: $60 for an individual after a $175 setup fee covering the first visit. It is a membership rather than insurance, and it excludes prescriptions, immunisations, DME, workers’ compensation and outside lab work.
What a visit looks like
You walk in, or save your spot online first. You check in and give your insurance details or ask about self-pay. A provider examines you, orders any testing that will change the plan, and the testing happens in the building. You leave with a diagnosis, a treatment plan, any prescription you need, and a referral if the problem is bigger than a clinic can handle.
Most patients at Maxem Health are seen in under 30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an appointment for urgent care?
No. Maxem Health clinics take walk-ins seven days a week including holidays. Saving your spot online shortens the wait but is optional.
Is urgent care the same as an emergency room?
No. Urgent care treats problems that are not life threatening. Emergency rooms handle emergencies and are equipped for them. For chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding or major trauma, call 9-1-1.
Can urgent care prescribe medication?
Yes. Urgent care providers prescribe medication when it is clinically appropriate, including antibiotics when testing or examination supports a bacterial infection.
What hours is urgent care open?
Maxem Health clinics are open seven days a week, most Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 6pm. Hours vary by location, so check your clinic’s page.
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.