When you need non-emergency, same-day care, an urgent care center can be a convenient option. Know where to go and how to find one near you with this helpful checklist.
Know if you're within or outside of our service area.
In our service area
If you are in our service area, please contact your primary care physician (PCP) before getting urgent care services because they know you and your medical history. Your PCP may be able to help you over the phone or recommend urgent care if that’s what you need.
Remember, your PCP is part of a plan medical group (PMG), a physician group of doctors, specialists and other providers. If you’re in our service area you must go to an urgent care center in your PMG, and you can find your PMG on your member ID card.
Quick tips to find an urgent care center in your PMG
- Use our Hospital, Urgent Care, Facility, Or Ancillary Search tool.
- Find the Specialty section and select Urgent Care Clinic.
- Find the Plan Medical Group section and select your PMG.
Outside our service area
If you are outside of our service area, you do not need to contact your PCP before receiving care. However, you should contact your PCP when you return — they may want to see you to follow up with your care.
If you access urgent care services out of our service area, you may be asked to pay out of pocket. If that happens, you can submit a request for medical reimbursement online through your Sharp Health Plan online account.
Check urgent care wait times or make a virtual reservation.
Before you go to an urgent care center, you can view wait times online. Select locations let you save a spot in line.
Here’s an example:
When Nadia went on a hike, she slipped and fell. Her ankle is sore, and she can put weight on it, but it’s starting to swell. Nadia calls her primary care physician, who recommends visiting a nearby urgent care center. She searches for an urgent care center that’s part of her plan medical group, Sharp Rees-Stealy. Nadia checks the wait times, and she chooses a location with a 20-minute wait to save time.
Get more information about urgent and emergency care
View common reasons to visit an urgent care center vs. the emergency room, learn how to save a spot at the ER and more.
