Wellness

[willdob3]

I'd check to see what my healthcare plan covers & go where it would cost me the least. Generally speaking, the ER should be last resort - true emergencies. 

A few few years ago I fell and needed medical attention. If I had gone to the ER my plan would not have covered my treatment at all - they did not consider my situation to be an emergency. I'm so glad I called them & checked first. I was told to go to a walk-in clinic/urgent care that would cover me 100%.

[willdob3]

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@Lipstickdiva wrote:

One of our local hospitals has a chart on its website that lists the emergency dept., urgent care and express clinic.  You click on a tab for each facility and it brings up a list of what they treat you for at each place.   

For a broken bone, you go to the ER, not an Urgent Care or Express Clinic. They aren't going to be able to do anything. They are going to send you to the ER.  Both the urgent care and express clinic treat minor things like sprains, strains, sinus infections, UTI, migraines, minor burns, skin rashes, that sort of thing.  Anything more serious and you need to go the ER. 

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But you don't know if the bone is broken until someone x-rays it. 

-I had a broken bone, was pretty sure it was broken when I called and I was told not to go to the ER. The walk-in clinic did basic stuff but I had to go to a specialist a few days later. The same thing that they'd have told me to do at the ER. - I needed surgery.

[ALRATIBA]

I belong to a large group practice ... there's always a walk-in urgent care option during regular hours.

Otherwise ... there's  "doc-in-a-box" office right around the corner. 

[Luvitorleaveit1]

I just used my local Urgent Care facility for the first time this weekend in fact I almost forgot these were available and was going to make an appointment with my physician Monday but I am so very glad these facilities are available seven days since my docors are only opened during the week and sometimes only on certain days and times.  The one by me was opened from 7am to midnight.  I was seen right away examined and the doctor called in my prescription for this fungus infection that I got and I was in and out in 15 mins.  The fungus started going away almost immediately after I used the prescribed cream and what a relief.  I had to fill out one form with my info he made a copy of my insurance card and I paid my co-pay no complications.