Should I Go to the Walk-In Injury Clinic or the ER?

Injuries are an unfortunate part of life that happens most inopportunely. Whether you sprained your ankle stepping off the curb or broke your leg sliding into third, you need immediate treatment for your injury.

Do you head to the nearest orthopedic walk-in clinic, or do you have to wait in the busy emergency room (ER)? It's essential to know which one is best for your needs to avoid lengthy wait times and get the care you desperately need.

At Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Dr. Brian Snow, Dr. Jon Thompson, and their team of orthopedic trained Physician assistants offer expert orthopedic care at their offices in McKinney and Prosper, Texas.

Our team delivers emergency care for orthopedic injuries at the walk-in clinic, as well as follow-up care and other treatments during regular office hours.

What is a walk-in injury clinic?

A walk-in injury clinic is your one-stop shop for all minor to moderate orthopedic injuries. It’s a quick and convenient option when you suffer an injury to get expert treatment without having to sit in the ER for hours at a time.

Our walk-in clinic is convenient for people who have suffered sports injuries, running, or doing everyday activities. We provide fast and efficient care without the long wait times at the ER.

An added benefit to our walk-in clinic is that when you need follow-up care after your injury, we provide that at one of our conveniently located offices in Texas. Our team is interconnected, meaning we'll know about your injury and the proper follow-up care at your next appointment.

What to expect at your walk-in appointment

The best thing about our walk-in clinic is you don’t need an appointment. When you have an injury, you attend the clinic, and we will fit you in for expert treatment. Our clinic always has orthopedic physicians and physician assistants on staff to evaluate and treat your injury.

We bring you back into a treatment room, where one of our staff asks you about what happened. We then discuss your symptoms and perform a physical exam on the injury. If necessary, we send you for imaging studies, like an X-ray.

After reviewing your symptoms and imaging studies, we discuss your diagnosis and treatment options. We offer a variety of therapies, treatments, and referrals within our team for surgery if necessary.

Once we review all the information you require and provide you with the treatment you need, we will provide you with discharge papers and a follow-up appointment if necessary. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about your injury in the days or weeks after your appointment.

Treatments we provide

We provide various treatments and therapies at our walk-in clinic. Our team specializes in sports and orthopedic injuries, which often warrant the following treatments:

• Ice and heat
• Orthotic devices
• Crutches and slings
• Splinting or casting
• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy
• Medications
• Bracing

The treatment you require depends on the injury and the severity of the problem. We can reset a dislocated joint and send you to physical therapy or provide you with a splint for a sprain or strain.

We also refer you to physical therapy for many sports-related injuries. Physical therapy helps you increase strength, flexibility, and balance, which not only helps your injury but prevents you from getting hurt in the future.

Our team stays current on the latest and most excellent sports medicine and orthopedic treatments, making our walk-in clinic superior to the ER for an injury.

When should I go to the ER?

Although we can treat many injuries at our walk-in clinic, we do not have the tools to treat every type of injury or condition. Some issues are better suited for an ER.

For instance, any injury sustained in a car accident or vehicle wreck should be taken to the ER to rule out serious problems. Our team has the tools to treat minor to moderate orthopedic injuries, not severe trauma.

Although we can handle almost any broken bone, you should go to the ER if you have a compound fracture, where the bone is sticking out of the skin. These fractures are severe and have the potential for serious infections.

Head, chest, and other serious injuries should also go to the ER for expert evaluation. They have the tools to deal with severe injuries, especially if you need to stay in the hospital for evaluation.

Don't hesitate to walk into our injury clinics in McKinney and Prosper, Texas, for immediate orthopedic care. You can also contact our team on our website to schedule an appointment with Dr. Thompson or Dr. Snow for an injury follow-up.