Why is Birmingham called the birthplace of urgent care?

Dr. Bruce Irwin opened the first American Family Care (AFC) clinic in Birmingham in 1982 — the first combined urgent care, family practice, and primary care facility in the United States. AFC has since grown to more than 240 clinics nationwide serving 3 million patients per year, with its corporate headquarters still in Birmingham at 3700 Cahaba Beach Road.

Do Birmingham urgent care clinics accept Alabama Medicaid?

Many Birmingham urgent care clinics accept Alabama Medicaid, including UAB Medicine Urgent Care, AFC, NextCare, and Med Help. However, Alabama is one of 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid — the state covers no childless adults and covers low-income parents only up to 18% FPL (the second-lowest threshold in the US after Texas), so many working-age Birmingham residents rely on cash-pay urgent care or sliding-scale charity care.

How long are urgent care wait times in Birmingham compared to the ER?

Birmingham urgent care wait times typically run 20 minutes to 90 minutes for walk-ins, with online check-in often reducing that significantly. UAB Hospital ED — Alabama's only Level I adult trauma center — can run 3 to 6 hours for non-trauma visits during peak season because it serves as the statewide trauma referral hub.

When should I go to the ER instead of urgent care in Birmingham?

Go to the ER or call 911 for chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding, head trauma, difficulty breathing, severe abdominal pain, broken bones with deformity, burns, or any major trauma. UAB Hospital is Alabama's only Level I adult trauma center, and Children's of Alabama (adjacent to UAB) is the only Pediatric Level I trauma center in the state.

Are there 24-hour urgent care clinics in Birmingham?

Most Birmingham urgent care clinics close by 8 or 9 p.m., including AFC, NextCare, and UAB Medicine Urgent Care. For after-hours non-emergency care, UAB Hospital ED, UAB St. Vincent's Birmingham, and UAB Medical West EDs are open 24/7. Some AFC locations offer extended hours and weekend coverage.

Can I get a sports physical or DOT physical at urgent care in Birmingham?

Yes — most Birmingham urgent care clinics offer DOT physicals for commercial drivers and sports physicals for Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Spain Park, and Hewitt-Trussville High School athletes. AFC, NextCare, and Med Help all offer these services typically without an appointment.

What urgent care options exist for uninsured Birmingham residents?

For uninsured Birmingham residents — many of whom sit in Alabama's Medicaid coverage gap — cash-pay urgent care at AFC and NextCare typically runs $100–$200 per visit. Equal Access Birmingham (EAB) is a UAB-affiliated student-run free clinic specifically for the uninsured and underserved. UAB Hospital also offers charity care for eligible patients.

Solv / Urgent Care / Alabama / Birmingham /

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Solv currently lists 1,374 same-day appointments for Urgent care in Birmingham, across 26 partner clinics.

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5 instant-book locations

American Family Care, Calera

American Family Care

Open until 7:00 pm

Mon 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Tue 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Wed 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Thu 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Fri 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sat 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

72 Highway 304, Calera, AL 3504072 Highway 304

4.33(1k reviews)

Urgent care

Book online

Today

8:00 AM 8:10 AM 8:20 AM 8:30 AM 8:40 AM 8:50 AM 9:10 AM 9:20 AM

Popular Clinic! Booked 9 times today on Solv.

Wasn’t expecting to wait one hour after making my scheduled appointment at 9:50 and advise to be there at 9:35, which I was.

American Family Care, Pell City

American Family Care

Open until 7:00 pm

Mon 7:30 am - 7:00 pm
Tue 7:30 am - 7:00 pm
Wed 7:30 am - 7:00 pm
Thu 7:30 am - 7:00 pm
Fri 7:30 am - 7:00 pm
Sat 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

20 Hazelwood Dr, Pell City, AL 3512520 Hazelwood Dr

4.67(941 reviews)

Urgent care

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Today

7:30 AM 7:40 AM 7:50 AM 8:10 AM 8:20 AM 8:40 AM 8:50 AM 9:20 AM

Popular Clinic! Booked 10 times today on Solv.

Everyone was fantastic. The check-in was easy, the nurses were personable, and caring. The doctor took his time.

Southern Immediate Care, Forestdale

Southern Immediate Care

Open until 6:00 pm

Mon 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tue 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thu 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Fri 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sun10:00 am - 3:00 pm

1664 Forestdale Blvd, Birmingham, AL 352141664 Forestdale Blvd

4.83(807 reviews)

Urgent care

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Today

8:00 AM 8:15 AM 8:30 AM 8:45 AM 9:00 AM 9:15 AM 9:30 AM 9:45 AM

95% of patients recommend this clinic.

Really appreciate my speedy service at Urgent Care on today because that sciatica nerve had me up all nite in a chair trying to get some relief. I couldn't take it any longer so off to urgent care and everyone was so concerned. The nurse who excorted me in was very patience with me and Dr. Eugene Baldwin is just so kind, so pleasant & caring when he talk with you. I am so happy to see he was still there servicing the people with kindness. Thank you for having him on Staff, I hope he stays on this side of Town.

Southern Immediate Care, Lakeshore

Southern Immediate Care

Open until 6:00 pm

Mon 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tue 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thu 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Fri 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sun10:00 am - 3:00 pm

2874 Lakeshore Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 352112874 Lakeshore Pkwy

4.95(825 reviews)

Urgent care

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Today

8:00 AM 8:15 AM 8:30 AM 8:45 AM 9:00 AM 9:15 AM 9:30 AM 9:45 AM

97% of patients recommend this clinic.

I had a need for a quick diagnosis. They were very prompt and explained everything thoroughly. I highly recommend. Everybody was awesome.

Southern Immediate Care, Valleydale

Southern Immediate Care

Open until 6:00 pm

Mon 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tue 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thu 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Fri 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sun10:00 am - 3:00 pm

4500 Valleydale Rd, Birmingham, AL 352424500 Valleydale Rd

4.94(874 reviews)

Urgent care

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Today

8:00 AM 8:15 AM 8:30 AM 8:45 AM 9:00 AM 9:15 AM 9:30 AM 9:45 AM

Popular Clinic! Booked 3 times today on Solv.

Check in was easy. Staff was super friendly and the doctor was so great and explained everything where I could understand Highly recommend

ExperCARE, Jasper

ExperCARE

Open until 7:00 pm

Mon 8:15 am - 7:00 pm
Tue 8:15 am - 7:00 pm
Wed 8:15 am - 7:00 pm
Thu 8:15 am - 7:00 pm
Fri 8:15 am - 7:00 pm
Sat 8:45 am - 7:00 pm
Sun 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sep 7 8:15 am - 4:00 pm

2708 Hwy 78 E, Jasper, AL 355012708 Hwy 78 E

4.88(888 reviews)

Urgent care

Book urgent care & walk-in clinics near me in Birmingham, AL

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American Family Care, Calera

American Family Care

Today

American Family Care, Pell City

American Family Care

Today

Southern Immediate Care, Forestdale

Southern Immediate Care

Today

Southern Immediate Care, Lakeshore

Southern Immediate Care

Today

Southern Immediate Care, Valleydale

Southern Immediate Care

Today

ExperCARE, Jasper

ExperCARE

UAB Medicine Urgent Care

UAB Medicine Urgent Care

Alabama Regional Medical Services-Northern Health Center

Alabama Regional Medical Services-Northern Health Center

Legion Field

Legion Field

Cahaba Medical Care, West End Health Center

Cahaba Medical Care

TrustCare, Montclair Road

TrustCare

MedHelp Urgent Care

MedHelp Urgent Care

MedHelp, Lakeshore

MedHelp

Fast Pace Health, Homewood, AL

Fast Pace Health

TrustCare, Montgomery Highway

TrustCare

Your Kid's Urgent Care, Vestavia Hills

Your Kid's Urgent Care

TrustCare, Cahaba Heights

TrustCare

Community Urgent Care, Fultondale

Community Urgent Care

Concentra Urgent Care

Concentra Urgent Care

Southeast Urgent Care

Southeast Urgent Care

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