Medicine is commonly administered intravenously by medical professionals as it provides a number of benefits over other forms of drug delivery. IVs are used for treating patients who cannot take oral medications, for faster onset of effects, and for administering more precise doses over a longer period of time. Furthermore, oral medications need to bypass the gastrointestinal tract; the strong acids in the stomach can break down these medicines, negatively impacting their efficacy. In the case of urgent care, patients are almost always connected to an intravenous drug or fluid delivery system, especially in situations where the patient is unconscious.