For in-person, after-hours care
Walk-in clinics include both urgent care centers and retail health clinics. They’re a good choice if your primary doctor’s office is closed and you’d like in-person care for an illness or injury. You don’t need an appointment at these clinics, and many are open during evenings and weekends. Walk-in clinics offer:
- In-person care when your doctor isn’t available
- Diagnostic tests like blood work and X-rays
- Assessment and treatment of minor injuries
- Convenient access to prescriptions, if needed
Urgent care centers
Urgent care centers can treat moderate illnesses and injuries that are critical but not emergencies. Many have diagnostic services available, like if you need blood drawn or an X-ray. The medical professionals in urgent care centers are often U.S. board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners.
Retail health clinics
Retail health clinics generally handle minor illnesses only, and provide convenient access to prescriptions, if needed. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners, who are overseen by a doctor, provide care. These clinics can often be found in pharmacies and grocery stores.
Remember to coordinate all your care with your primary care doctor and follow up with them after receiving care.
Walk-in clinic highlights
Costs vary depending on services rendered
30 to 60 minutes
In-person
Read more about walk-in clinics
Urgent care doctors: There when you need them
Urgent care doctors are available when your PCP isn’t.
Learn more about urgent care doctors
Differences between retail health clinics and urgent care
A look into the differences between these two walk-in clinics.
Learn about the differences
When to go to an urgent care center
How to know when urgent care center is the right choice.
When to go to an urgent care centerPlease note: You should not use walk-in clinics for medical emergencies.
The information contained on this webpage is for educational purposes only. Nothing on this webpage is intended to be, nor should be used as or relied upon as, professional medical advice. Nothing contained on this webpage is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. For medical advice, or to receive medical diagnosis or treatment, consult with your health care provider.