Many urgent care facilities allow patients to check in online, which essentially requires inputting your personal information and some details about your health issue before you get to the center. Doing so expedites the check-in process and may help you to avoid sitting and waiting for medical attention. If you're using an urgent care center's check-in process for the first time, here and some dos and don'ts to keep in mind.
Do: Get Help From Someone
It doesn't hurt to get help with the online check-in process from someone you trust — a family member, a friend, or a colleague at work — if you feel as though you need it. For example, if you believe that you've suffered a concussion, it may be easier to have someone fill out the online form on your behalf so that you don't have to look at the computer screen if its brightness is bothering you.
Don't: Allow It To Delay You
While online check-in can speed things up once you get to the urgent care facility, you don't want to allow this process to delay your arrival. For example, if you've sustained a serious cut and are bleeding considerably, it's a bad idea to fuss around and get checked in online while you're at home, and then begin to drive to the center with a family member. In this scenario, you're better to start the trip and then complete the process online from your smartphone.
Do: Be Thorough With Details
You'll generally find that an urgent care facility's online check-in form gives you several boxes that you need to fill out to describe what health issue you're facing. It's ideal if you can be as thorough as possible so that the administration team can pass along clear details to the medical staff. Being vague when you fill out the form can cause delays during intake.
Don't: Exaggerate Your Situation
In an effort to have a medical professional see you promptly, you may be tempted to exaggerate your condition a little. For example, if you've suffered a small cut that needs stitches, you might describe it as a "huge cut." Exaggerating your condition is not only dishonest but may end up putting you in the queue ahead of people who have more serious issues — and that's not a good situation for your conscience. Try to be as honest as possible when you fill out the form.
