Can Urgent Care Do Ultrasound?

You’ve suffered an injury, but the damage is internal and impossible to assess from a simple visual examination. What you need is ultrasound imaging that enables your care team to make a proper diagnosis and prescribe treatment, but does the urgent care center do ultrasounds?

This article explains what ultrasound imaging is, why you might need it and where you can have the procedure done.

WHAT IS ULTRASOUND IMAGING?

Ultrasound imaging is a medical imaging technique that uses sound waves to create real-time images of tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, organs and other structures inside the body. A device called a transducer directs high-frequency sound waves into your body, which bounce back and are processed by a computer to produce detailed images displayed on a monitor.

Unlike X-rays, sound waves are not ionizing radiation. That means ultrasound imaging is safe, including for pregnant people and children.

Why isn’t ultrasound used to assess fractures? It doesn’t work well with bones, as they reflect the sound waves without allowing them to penetrate the cracks that healthcare providers must visualize to diagnose a fracture.

CAN I GET ULTRASOUND IMAGING AT AN URGENT CARE CENTER?

The short answer to that question is probably. Many urgent care centers today have ultrasound imaging systems. However, some do not.

So, if you have reason to believe you might need time-sensitive ultrasound imaging, it’s a good idea to contact the urgent care center near you to ask if they have that capability. If they don’t, they might be able to direct you to an urgent care that does or recommend you go to an emergency room, where ultrasound imaging will be available.

WHAT URGENT MEDICAL CONDITIONS REQUIRE ULTRASOUND IMAGING

Healthcare providers don’t expect you to know whether you need an ultrasound, of course. But some of the many conditions that might require this type of imaging include:

• Muscle/tendon tears
• Appendicitis
• Ovarian cysts
• Kidney stones
• Gallstones
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Thyroid problems
• Embedded objects

BAPTIST HEALTH’S HYBRID EMERGENCY/URGENT CARE

Baptist Health offers unique hybrid emergency and urgent care. In fact, we’re the only provider in Kentuckiana that has urgent care and emergency room services under one roof.

This approach means you don’t have to try to assess the seriousness of your condition and determine the type of care you need. You simply visit our hybrid care center, and a board-certified healthcare provider will make that determination for you.

If your symptoms indicate you have a life-threatening medical issue, you’ll get emergency room services. If your condition isn’t life-threatening but requires prompt attention, you’ll get urgent care. And in either case, we can perform an ultrasound if needed.

GET HELP WITH URGENT MEDICAL ISSUES FROM BAPTIST HEALTH

Baptist Health is here for you if you have an injury or illness that requires prompt attention. Medical professionals trained to provide urgent/emergency care will evaluate your issue and determine the best course of action.

If you’re traveling outside the Kentuckiana region, it’s always wise to check on the availability of nearby urgent care and emergency room services.

Next Steps and Helpful Resources

Learn More About Urgent Care at Baptist Health
Urgent & Virtual Care
Does Urgent Care Do Stitches?
Urgent Care for Minor Illnesses