It’s a Friday night and your sinus infection has gone past the point of treating it with saline solution. Or it’s 3:00 a.m. and your newborn has a high fever that’s starting to alarm you. Or possibly your fiancé rolled his ankle playing kickball and just wants to double-check that he didn’t break a bone. Whatever the cause, a trip to an urgent care center is likely on your mind. Here are seven ways to making your urgent care visit a little bit better.

1. Choose a hospital close to you

This seems simple enough, but locating the closest urgent care centers now can take the hassle of trying to find one when you need to go. A quick Google search should help you narrow down your choices. But don’t just find one and call it quits.

First, locate the centers closest to your home, your work, and even your kids’ schools. Having multiple options is important. Second, enter the centers’ locations into your cellphone, or keep a list in your wallet, your car, your child’s backpack, and anywhere else that you can think of. Having this info handy is necessary during times of need.

2. Know your insurance policy

Health insurance can be confusing, really confusing. But knowing what your plan does covers and what doesn’t means that you have less of a chance to be surprised by an unexpected bill after a visit.

As far as urgent care centers are concerned, they may or may not be covered. Take a look at your coverage plan, and if you’re still unsure, call the urgent care centers that you put on your “go-to” list. You may be expected to pay a copayment or deductible. These first two tips take time, so doing your homework before the deadline can help ease your mind.

 3. Ask yourself, ‘Why do I need to go?’

Whether you’re asking yourself this question or you’re asking a loved one, answering the “why” can help put the visit in perspective. In general, if the condition isn’t life-threatening, for example, the fever is stable, the bleeding has stopped, or the bone isn’t broken, an urgent care visit is recommended as opposed to an emergency room visit.

4. Call your healthcare provider

Unless it’s the middle of the night and you’re in dire need of professional medical help, call your healthcare provider’s office. Even if you aren’t able to speak with your primary care doctor, the medical staff may be able to steer you in the right direction.

Ask when the next possible appointment is, if they think you can wait until then, or if you should see someone at an urgent care center right now instead.

Of course, talking to office staff isn’t the same thing as talking to a medical professional. So if you’re worried, go ahead and visit the urgent care center. At the very least, it will ease your mind. 

5. Bring your records

One of the biggest disadvantages of urgent care is that you don’t know exactly who you’ll be seeing. Again, you’re going to an urgent care center because it’s convenient, not because you have a particular doctor you want to see.

That being said, having a copy of your latest medical records or files on hand is important, says Thaler. These electronic or hard copy files can make a difference in the information that the urgent care professional provides you.

 6. Write it down

You’ve likely heard that writing things down can help jog your memory, but it can also help you keep your thoughts organized. Going to a new healthcare facility can be overwhelming. The last thing that you want to do is to leave without feeling like you got what you came for.

 7. Follow through and follow up

Getting the most out of your urgent care visit doesn’t end when your appointment is over. Now’s the time to actually follow the medical professional’s instructions thoroughly. It’s also a good idea to follow up with your primary care provider and let them know that you went to an urgent care center. They can make sure your problem is resolved as expected and make a note of it in your medical history.