There are few things more troublesome – or many times, more dangerous – than requiring medical care and having nowhere to turn to. In Georgia, getting in to see your doctor is often a challenge and hospital emergency rooms and generally clogged with multi-hour waits. This is partly due to the fact that the state is experiencing a shortage of health care professionals, which makes it difficult to schedule an appointments or accessing immediate care when you need it.

Urgent Care in Georgia

Instead of trying to get in to see your doctor, you can head to a Georgia urgent care center. You don't need an appointment, and they're open extended hours so that you can get in after work or on the weekend. If you are a part of the 20 percent who are uninsured in the state, or if money is tight, you will be happy to know that urgent care is much more affordable than an emergency room visit.

Types of Walk-in Clinics in Georgia

Regardless of where you live in Georgia, you'll likely find a nearby walk-in clinic, especially if you're in the city or surrounding suburbs. But there are different types of walk-in clinics to consider. Let's look at them to help you decide where to go.

Walk-in Clinic: A walk-in clinic is actually an over-arching category that refers to any type of non-appointment healthcare clinic including urgent care, retail clinics and even free or community clinics. Labeling something as a walk-in clinic is pretty nondescript relative to what services they offer.

Retail Clinic: A retail clinic is a type of walk-in clinic located within a larger retail store, typically a big-box retailer like Walmart or Target or a pharmacy like Walgreens or CVS. They offer treatment for minor injuries and illness, as well as preventative care and immunizations.

Urgent Care Clinic: An urgent care center is tier higher than a retail clinic usually staffed by a physician, providing on-site diagnostic equipment including x-ray machines and treating illnesses and injuries that, while not serious enough for the emergency room, require immediate medical attention.

Whether you just have the sniffles or you need immediate medical attention, these types of clinics are a great choice for Georgia residents.

Specific urgent care and walk-in clinic services available in may include STD testing flu shots, school physicals and many other valuable services