What to Expect at Your First Urgent Care Visit — A Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve never been to urgent care before, you might not know what to expect — and that uncertainty can keep people from coming in when they actually need care. At Monarch Medicine, we see first-time urgent care patients every day. Many have only ever gone to their primary care doctor or the ER, and they’re surprised by how straightforward the experience is.
I’m Dr. Lisa Clay, board-certified family physician and founder of Monarch Medicine Urgent Care in Carmel. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough of what happens from the moment you decide to come in.
Before You Arrive
Option A: Walk In
No appointment needed. Drive to 90 Executive Drive, Suite A & B, Carmel, IN 46032 during business hours (Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat–Sun 9am–12pm). Walk through the door. That’s it.
Option B: Check In Online First
Use MyChart to check in before you leave home. This puts you in the queue so your wait starts before you arrive. You’ll still walk in — but you’ll be seen faster.
What to Bring
- Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport)
- Insurance card (front and back) — if you have insurance
- List of current medications — names and doses
- List of known allergies
- Payment method — for copay or self-pay (cash, credit, debit, HSA, FSA, Zelle accepted)
- Relevant information — when symptoms started, what you’ve tried, any recent ER visits or specialist notes
If you don’t have insurance, our self-pay rates are published online. New patient visits start at $153.30 with 30% discount applied automatically. No surprise bills.
Step by Step: Your Visit
Step 1: Check-In (2–5 minutes)
Our front desk team will greet you, collect your ID and insurance card, and have you complete a brief intake form. If you checked in online, this step is even faster — most of your information is already in the system.
Step 2: Vitals & History (5 minutes)
A clinical team member takes your vitals — blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, oxygen level — and asks about your symptoms: when they started, what’s changed, what you’ve tried, and any relevant medical history.
Step 3: Physician Evaluation (10–20 minutes)
Your physician (MD/DO) performs a thorough physical exam and discusses your symptoms with you. This isn’t a 3-minute visit. Your physician takes the time needed to understand what’s happening, explain the likely diagnosis, and answer your questions. If testing is needed — rapid strep, flu test, urinalysis, X-ray — it’s ordered on the spot.
Step 4: Testing & Results (if needed, 5–15 minutes)
Rapid tests return results in minutes. X-rays are taken on-site and reviewed with you at the visit. Lab work that requires outside processing (cultures, specialized panels) is sent same-day with results typically in 24–72 hours via MyChart.
Step 5: Diagnosis & Treatment Plan
Your physician explains the diagnosis in clear language, discusses the treatment plan, and answers any remaining questions. Prescriptions are sent to your pharmacy electronically before you leave. If a procedure is needed (stitches, splinting, wound care), it’s done during the same visit.
Step 6: Checkout & Follow-Up
You pay your copay or self-pay amount at checkout. A visit summary with your diagnosis, prescriptions, and follow-up instructions is sent to your MyChart account. If you need a specialist referral, a work/school note, or follow-up lab work, it’s all arranged before you leave.
How Long Does the Whole Visit Take?
Most visits at Monarch Medicine take 30–60 minutes from check-in to checkout, depending on whether testing or procedures are needed. A straightforward illness visit (strep, UTI, cold/flu) is typically on the shorter end. An injury visit with X-ray and splinting takes a bit longer.
Compare that to the average ER wait of 2–4 hours for non-emergency conditions — plus a bill that’s 10–20x higher.
What Happens After Your Visit
- Prescriptions — already at your pharmacy by the time you arrive
- Visit summary — available in MyChart within hours
- Records shared — because we use Epic, your PCP and specialists can see your visit notes immediately through the shared MyChart system
- Follow-up — if you don’t improve or your condition changes, walk back in or message us through MyChart. No need to call and wait for a callback.
Common first-visit question: “Will my regular doctor know I came here?” Yes. We use Epic/MyChart — the same system used by IU Health, Community Health, and most major health systems in Indiana. Your PCP can see your visit summary, diagnoses, and prescriptions immediately.
Who Can Come to Urgent Care?
Anyone. You don’t need a referral, a prior relationship, or to be an “established patient.” We see:
- Adults of all ages
- Children of all ages — newborns through teens
- Patients with insurance (most major plans accepted)
- Self-pay patients (published pricing)
- Patients from Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, Zionsville, and Whitestown
We are not in network with Medicaid or Humana.
Ready for Your First Visit? Walk In Today.
Physician-led care. On-site testing. Published pricing. No appointment, no referral, no prior relationship needed.
Check In Online — Hold Your Spot
Or call (317) 804-4203
90 Executive Drive, Suite A & B, Carmel, IN 46032 · Mon–Fri 8am–6pm · Sat–Sun 9am–12pm
Last medically reviewed by
Dr. Lisa Clay, MD, FAAFP
Board-Certified Family Physician · Founder & Medical Director, Monarch Medicine Urgent Care
March 2026
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a medical emergency — including chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, or loss of consciousness — call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
About the Author
Dr. Lisa Clay, MD, FAAFP
Board-Certified Family Physician
Dr. Lisa Clay is a board-certified family physician with nearly two decades of clinical experience. She founded Monarch Medicine Urgent Care in Carmel, Indiana to deliver compassionate, physician-led care with minimal wait times and transparent pricing.
Read full bio →