Best Urgent Cares in Providence

Introduction to Urgent Care in Providence

Definition and importance of urgent care services

Urgent care services provide a valuable middle ground between primary care and emergency room visits. These facilities are designed to treat non-life-threatening medical conditions that require prompt attention.

In Providence, urgent care centers offer residents and visitors convenient access to medical care for issues such as minor injuries, infections, and exacerbations of chronic conditions.

Understanding when to choose urgent care over emergency services can lead to more efficient healthcare utilization and potentially lower costs for patients.

Overview of urgent care landscape in Providence

Providence boasts a robust network of urgent care providers, with several highly qualified physicians specializing in this field.

Based on the provided data, we can identify at least five doctors who offer urgent care services in Providence, including specialists in family medicine, internal medicine, and emergency medicine.

These urgent care facilities are strategically located throughout the city, with some doctors affiliated with major hospitals like Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, ensuring broad coverage for residents across different neighborhoods.

Choosing an Urgent Care Doctor in Providence

Factors to consider when selecting a doctor

Qualifications and certifications

• Review board certifications (e.g., American Board of Family Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine)
• Examine educational background and training

Patient ratings and reviews

• Consider star ratings from platforms like Healthgrades
• Take into account the number of reviews (e.g., Dr. Vafidis has 65 reviews, while Dr. Hariharan has only 1)

Language capabilities

• Assess language options (e.g., Dr. Hariharan speaks English, Hindi, and Tamil)
• Consider importance of communication in medical care

Hospital affiliations

• Note connections to local hospitals (e.g., Our Lady of Fatima Hospital)
• Consider potential benefits of these affiliations for continuity of care

Using online resources for doctor selection

Healthgrades and other rating platforms

• Explore detailed profiles and patient feedback
• Compare doctors based on various criteria

Importance of verifying information

• Cross-reference data from multiple sources
• Contact doctor's offices directly for up-to-date information

Top-Rated Urgent Care Doctors in Providence

Dr. Constantine Vafidis

Qualifications and Ratings

• Highest star rating of 4.3 out of 5 based on 65 reviews
• Board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine
• Specializes in Family Medicine and Urgent Care Medicine

Additional Information

• Languages: English and Greek
• Affiliated with Our Lady of Fatima Hospital
• Educated at Boston College and Somerset Medical Center

Dr. Praveen Hariharan

Qualifications and Ratings

• 4.0 star rating (note: limited review count)
• Board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine
• Specializes in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Diseases, and Urgent Care Medicine

Additional Information

• Languages: English, Hindi, and Tamil
• Affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton and Beverly Hospital
• Extensive medical education including fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital

Dr. Karen Grande

Qualifications and Ratings

• 3.3 star rating based on 7 reviews
• Specializes in Urgent Care Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Addiction Medicine

Additional Information

• Affiliated with Our Lady of Fatima Hospital
• Contact number available: (401) 351-1900
• Residency at University Ma Mem Hlthcare Mem Campus

Other Notable Urgent Care Physicians

Dr. David Carpentier

• Specializes in Emergency Medicine and Urgent Care Medicine
• 3.3 star rating based on 16 reviews
• Languages: English and Italian
• Educated at Brown University Medical School

Dr. Katherine Williams

• Board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine
• 3.0 star rating based on 6 reviews
• Languages: English and Spanish
• Educated at University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Additional Resources for Finding the Right Urgent Care Doctor in Providence

Local Medical Societies and Associations

Rhode Island Medical Society

• Provides a directory of physicians
• Offers resources on healthcare in Rhode Island

Rhode Island Department of Health

• Maintains licensing information for healthcare providers
• Offers health-related resources specific to Providence

Insurance Provider Networks

Checking In-Network Doctors

• Importance of verifying if urgent care doctors are in-network
• How to use insurance provider's online tools to find in-network urgent care physicians

Understanding Coverage for Urgent Care Services

• Differences in copays and coverage between urgent care and emergency services
• Importance of reviewing insurance policy details for urgent care visits

Recommendations from Primary Care Physicians

Importance of Coordinated Care

• Benefits of choosing urgent care doctors who can communicate with your primary care physician
• How coordinated care can improve overall health outcomes

Leveraging Existing Medical Relationships

• Asking your primary care doctor for urgent care recommendations in Providence
• Utilizing your primary care physician's network for finding qualified urgent care specialists

Online Resources and Reviews

Healthgrades and Similar Platforms

• How to interpret star ratings and reviews from the provided data
• Importance of reading multiple reviews to get a balanced perspective

Providence-Specific Healthcare Forums

• Local online communities discussing healthcare options in Providence
• Patient experiences shared on social media platforms