Looking for urgent care clinic in LA...

June 18, 2006 11:46 AM

Where do you go for medical care when you have no health insurance?

Looks like the chest cold I've been fighting for a week is turning into something more serious. It's Sunday, I'm in Los Angeles, and I have no health insurance. Googling gives me all kinds of local urgent care clinics, but I'm hoping someone here has actual experience with a place and can make a personal recommendation? My lungs thank you in advance.

Please don't recommend the emergency room or county hospital. If you've been there, you know what I mean.

posted by Space Kitty to Health & Fitness (5 answers total)

You can go to a low-cost or free clinic. There is a list of some for LA here. The most prominent one I can think of it the Los Angeles Free Clinic. The staff seemed really nice when the clinic was renovated on Extreme Makeover Home Edition.
posted by ChazB at 11:55 AM on June 18, 2006

Another vote for L.A. Free Clinic, though I don't think they're open on Sundays. I've never been, but have known some other people who've gone and they all had good things to say about it.

(feel better, kitty!)
posted by scody at 12:00 PM on June 18, 2006

Your profile says student. Why not just goto the clinic on campus?
posted by SeizeTheDay at 12:16 PM on June 18, 2006

An Emergency Room has to at least triage you -- by law. If its serious enough, they will see you.
posted by skepticallypleased at 1:15 PM on June 18, 2006

Response by poster: Sometimes you don't have to go too far from home to get a good answer. Thanks to the_bone, who recommended Plaza Urgent Care Center in Burbank. In under two hours, I was diagnosed (bronchitis), given (and picked up!) a prescription, and am back home on the internet where I belong. The doctor's visit was $70, the wait was minimal, the staff friendly and I didn't feel as if I was using resources meant for the less fortunate.

I can't wait for the semester to start so I can start using campus resources. Thanks to everybody for your help!
posted by Space Kitty at 2:27 PM on June 18, 2006 [1 favorite]