The Hidden Benefits of X-rays in Urgent Care Settings

When you visit an urgent care clinic, it’s because you’ve got a pressing medical need or concern. A walk-in option lets you get fast access to medical professionals so you can get the care you need.

Medical treatment is most effective when it’s applied to the root cause of the issue. That’s why our team at SmartClinic Urgent Care tries to go beyond simply soothing your symptoms. Instead, we want to help you figure out what’s really going on and get you back on your feet. 

That’s a big part of the reason we offer digital X-rays at our offices in West Covina and Santa Clarita, California. Here are the benefits of choosing a full-service urgent care provider.

When an X-ray makes a difference

X-rays provide us with sophisticated technology to see what’s going on inside your body. This allows us to get a clearer idea of what’s causing symptoms in your chest, back, and limbs. We might recommend this if we think you’re having a problem with:

Your bones

You probably already know how useful X-rays are when it comes to broken bones. With this kind of imaging, we can see if you’ve sustained a fracture and, if so, how serious it is. This helps us develop the right treatment plan. 

If we identify a fracture, we’ll splint the area right there at our office. We also work with you to develop further treatment ranging from immobilizing the area with a sling or boot to referring you to a surgeon to reset the bone. 

But X-rays aren’t just helpful when something is broken. They can also let us see if you’re having joint problems like arthritis. For example, X-rays can reveal if your cartilage has worn away and bones are touching each other. 

Something inside your chest 

X-rays aren’t just for bones. We can use them to get a clearer look at other internal structures, including your lungs and your heart. An X-ray allows us to look for evidence of pneumonia by checking for fluid in your lungs, for example. 

If a chest X-ray shows that you might need help breathing, we can offer nebulizer treatment at our clinics.

What to expect if we recommend an X-ray

You don’t need to do anything special to prepare for the X-ray. We may have you change into a gown before it and remove metal like jewelry or eyeglasses, depending on the area we want to view. 

At SmartClinic Urgent Care, we use state-of-the-art digital X-rays. These use a lower amount of radiation than traditional X-rays, making them even safer for you. You won’t feel anything while the technician performs this radiographic scan. 

As an added benefit, those digital X-rays show up on a screen quickly. This allows us to discuss your results with you right there in our office. Additionally, a licensed radiologist reviews your X-rays, and we can send a formal radiology report to your primary care doctor. 

With onsite X-rays, we can quickly, accurately figure out what’s going on under your skin. That makes this kind of imaging a highly valuable tool for your urgent care team. 

If you think you might need an X-ray, you can simply walk into either SmartClinic Urgent Care location. Alternatively, you can schedule an appointment today by calling the location near you.