Primary care facilities operated by urgent care centers have gained prominence as medical services beyond emergency rooms for treating minor illnesses. A wide range of medical conditions, including minor injuries and illnesses becomes accessible due to these facilities maintaining extended hours and accepting walk-in patients at affordable costs. Does an urgent care facility perform CT Scans for patients who need specialized medical imaging? The advanced imaging needs of patients have propelled this question to prominence in healthcare facilities.
In this blog, we’ll answer the burning question: Does urgent care do CT scans? We’ll explore whether urgent care centers are equipped to handle CT scans and the benefits and limitations of receiving imaging services at these facilities.
What is a CT Scan?
The medical imaging procedure known as CT Scan or Computed Tomography scan utilizes computerized X-ray technology to generate multi-dimensional pictures of human body structures from inside. A CT Scan displays detailed 3D pictures through its cross-sectional imagery while X-rays create flat versions of body scans for medical examination of bones, soft tissues and blood vessels.
CT scans are often used to diagnose a wide range of conditions, such as:
- Internal injuries (especially after accidents or trauma)
- Cancer and tumors
- Brain conditions like strokes or bleeding
- Abdominal pain, infections, or appendicitis
- Bone fractures and joint issues
Due to its ability to produce precise, accurate images, CT scans assist doctors in both fast and correct identification of conditions, which leads to suitable treatment selection. Procedural time for CT scanning tends to be short, while additional contrast agents can be needed for specific scans to produce better images.
Do Urgent Cares Have CT Scans?
Many patients may wonder if they can get a CT scan at their local urgent care center. The short answer is: It depends. While some larger, well-equipped urgent care centers may offer CT scans, most smaller or more basic urgent care facilities may not have the necessary equipment on-site.
The reason for this limitation is that CT scans are expensive, large, and require specialized staff to operate. Since urgent care centers focus on treating minor injuries and illnesses, they typically have more basic diagnostic equipment, such as X-ray machines, which are sufficient for diagnosing the most common injuries like sprains, fractures, and dislocations.
However, NovaMed Urgent Care have advanced imaging capabilities or partnerships with imaging centers where you can get referred for a CT scan when needed. This allows patients to access a CT scan quickly without going to the emergency room.
If you’re experiencing symptoms that might require a CT scan, it’s always a good idea to call ahead to your urgent care center to check if they offer this service or if they can help you get the imaging you need.
Why Visit an Urgent Care for Imaging?
The selection of urgent care centers for imaging tests brings several benefits that exceed emergency room visits and specialist appointment delays. The main advantages of going to urgent care for imaging include the following:
- Reduced Wait Times: Unlike emergency rooms, patients can enter without appointments while receiving fast medical attention and promptly access necessary imaging tests before the total waiting duration.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Urgent care facilities offer imaging services at more reasonable prices than emergency departments do. A CT scan with other imaging services, will cost you not less than half of what a hospital would bill you for the same procedure.
- Convenience: Most urgent care facilities operate beyond regular business hours, including weekends and evenings, which gives patients the convenience to access medical care while avoiding job or school absences. CT scans with additional imaging services become more accessible because of the urgent care convenience.
- Walk-in Service: The facility is beneficial for patients experiencing unexpected pain or sudden injuries because urgent care centers can provide immediate imaging tests, such as CT scans.
Urgent care centers deliver quick, affordable imaging services that function as a better alternative compared to hospital emergency rooms for treating injuries and performing diagnostic tests.
The Cost of a CT Scan at Urgent Care
One of the most frequently asked questions is: How much does a CT scan cost at urgent care? While pricing varies depending on location, provider, and whether contrast dye is used, a CT scan at urgent care is generally much more affordable than at a hospital.
On average, the cost of a CT scan at urgent care can range between $250 to $1,200, depending on the type of scan and your insurance coverage. Some centers offer self-pay discounts or flexible payment plans for uninsured patients. For example, NovaMed Urgent Care works with most major insurance providers and offers transparent pricing to ensure patients understand their financial responsibility upfront.
The major financial benefits of getting a CT scan at urgent care include:
- Lower out-of-pocket costs than hospital ER visits
- Insurance-friendly billing
- No surprise charges or facility fees
- Cost-effective solutions for urgent, non-life-threatening issues
Before your visit, it’s wise to contact urgent care center and ask for a pricing breakdown to avoid any surprises.
CT Scans in NovaMed Urgent Care: What to Expect
In NovaMed Urgent Care, we offer CT scans to get the imaging service without the long waits or high costs associated with visiting the emergency room. Here’s what you can expect when you visit our urgent care center for a CT scan:
- Assessment: Upon arrival, the medical team will evaluate your condition to determine if a CT scan is necessary. This typically happens after an initial examination, where the doctor will assess your symptoms and decide if imaging is required.
- Quick and Convenient Service: If your urgent care center offers CT scans, the process is usually quick. You may be asked to lie still on a bed while the CT scanner takes detailed images of the area of concern. Depending on the type of scan, you may be given contrast material either orally or through an IV to help highlight certain areas in your body.
- Immediate Results: In most cases, urgent care centers with CT scan capabilities can provide you with fast results, often within the same visit. This allows your doctor to make an immediate diagnosis and recommend next steps for treatment.
- Follow-Up: Depending on the findings of your CT scan, your doctor may refer you for further treatment, such as seeing a specialist, or they may suggest follow-up care. In some cases, they may recommend sending the images to a hospital or advanced imaging center for further review.
Even though CT scans are not typically available at every urgent care facility, the convenience of having access to CT scan imaging can be invaluable for individuals who need quick diagnostics and care.
Conclusion
So, do urgent cares have CT scans? In many cases, yes — especially well-equipped centers like NovaMed Urgent Care, which offer fast, affordable access to imaging services. If you’re dealing with a non-life-threatening issue that may require a CT scan, urgent care imaging could be the smart, cost-effective choice.
From assessing injuries to diagnosing internal issues, CT scans at urgent care can speed up the path to recovery — and keep you out of the high-stress, high-cost emergency room. Remember, not every urgent care offers this service, so always call ahead.For immediate, professional care and access to advanced imaging in Mount Prospect, NovaMed Urgent Care is ready to help. Walk in today or call to learn more about your options for urgent care CT scan services.
