Why do I need an appointment?

We're glad you asked! We’re now requiring most patients to schedule their appointments. We’ve provided unscheduled care for many years, but as patient volumes grow, we had to make the switch to continue to give the very best care to the patients we see.

What If I Need Immediate Care?
We still see patients who need serious care right away and patients who have been referred to us by another clinic or provider without an appointment. Patients with potential injuries or illnesses should go to the front desk immediately for evaluation. Otherwise, please schedule your same-day visit for health concerns that don’t require immediate attention.  

Long Waits
Before implementing scheduled appointments, our patients were experiencing long wait times like we have never seen before. Waits weren't just long at The Urgency Room, they were long (and often longer) in emergency departments, clinics, and urgent cares across the Twin Cities. With so many patients waiting to be seen, we struggled to provide fast (prompt?) care.

Patient and Staff Support
Our switch to scheduled care helps us make sure our patients are seen in a timely manner without long waits in crowded waiting rooms. We offer same-day appointments for our patients.  It's hard to find a same-day appointment for anything these days but with our three locations, we've been able to make this possible. Now you can select the next available appointment or schedule an appointment time that works for you. You can wait in the comfort of your home until your appointment.

Challenges
While this transition has been well received by the majority of our patients, we know that not everyone agrees. It’s different from what many of our patients are used to and we understand. 

Waits with an Appointment
While we’re able to see the majority of our patients within 15 minutes of their appointment time we know that doesn’t happen 100% of the time. There are times when unexpected circumstances or sicker patients can cause a delay in scheduled care. While we know this can’t always be avoided, we’re committed to doing everything we can to stay on schedule. If we’re behind, our goal is to communicate this as soon as possible.  

Urgent Care Shouldn’t Be Scheduled
Actually, our data shows that scheduled same-day appointments are the best way to give our patients excellent care. Most urgent care health issues do not need immediate attention. And when you schedule an appointment, you can wait at home instead of in a busy waiting room, which means less exposure to other sick patients. See our FAQs for some examples of common ailments and injuries that are perfect for scheduled care.

Continuing to Maintain Flexibility
We don’t know if we will always require appointments for more minor health issues. Healthcare is constantly changing, to continue to provide you with the excellent care you have come to expect, we are constantly evolving and refining our approach. Thank you for your patience with this process.   

Thank You!
Thank you for continuing to trust us with your care. We’re so thankful we’re able to serve you when you or your family need us most.

We appreciate all feedback and concerns. Email us any time at info@urgencyroom.com