Ask a Health Advocate: What do I do if I’m sick on Christmas?

The holidays are often an enjoyable time with loved ones, enjoying good food, thoughtful gifts, and each other’s company. But the holidays may be less enjoyable if you’re sick. If you fall ill on a holiday, such as Christmas, chances are your doctor’s office isn’t open. In that case, who do you turn to when you’re sick?

Luckily, there are a few options for medical care during the holidays. Which one you choose should be determined by the type of medical issue you’re having. Read on to learn more about where to go and who to call if you’re sick on a holiday.

·         Call your doctor. But don’t hang up when you hear the recorded message! Most doctor’s offices have a way for you to reach the on-call doctor at that practice. Listen to the recorded message; it may direct you to call or be transferred to the practice’s answering service. The answering service can listen to your concern and reach out to the doctor on call, who will call you back shortly.

Calling your doctor may be the best option if:

o   Your doctor is already treating you for a condition, and your condition has worsened or you are having an adverse reaction to your prescribed medical treatment

o   You aren’t sure whether you should seek immediate help, and need professional advice about whether to visit the ER

·         Visit an urgent care center. Many urgent care centers are open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Urgent care centers are staffed with nurses and doctors, take walk-ins, and have a shorter wait time than the emergency room (typically under an hour). Before heading out, check the hours for your local urgent care center, plus make sure they’re in-network with your insurance plan.

Going to an urgent care center may be your best option if you have:

o   Sprained ankle

o   Sinus infection

o   Sore throat

o   Urinary tract infection

·         Go to the emergency room. Emergency room (ER) visits should be for emergency-related, life-threatening events only.

You should go to the ER if you have:

o   Difficulty breathing

o   Uncontrollable bleeding

o   Prolonged vomiting

o   Badly broken bones

o   Chest pains

 
In these kinds of situations, have a friend or family member drive you to the ER, or call 9-1-1 for a medical team and ambulance to be dispatched to you.
 

Need more help figuring out where to go when you’re sick on a holiday? If you are a Health Advocate member, call us—you will speak to a Personal Health Advocate who can point you in the right direction.

From all of us at Health Advocate, we hope you have a healthy and enjoyable holiday!

The Benefits of Urgent Care Centers

Say you’ve been stricken with a sore throat, sinus infection or earache—or you’ve sustained a minor burn or injury such as a sprained ankle.  Your primary care doctor isn’t able to fit you in right away, and your illness or injury isn’t severe enough for a trip to the emergency room.  So where can you go for medical assistance?  Consider visiting your local urgent care center.

What is urgent care?

Urgent care centers are walk-in clinics that provide patients with medical attention when they are unable to be seen by their primary care physicians or their condition is not serious enough to warrant a visit the ER. The medical staff at urgent care centers can treat a wide variety of health issues, such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, cuts or wounds, and eye or ear ailments.  Some urgent care centers can also provide immunizations and medical services needed for travel and immigration purposes.  Many urgent care centers can also perform simple laboratory work ( like blood tests) and X-rays.

The many benefits of urgent care centers include:

Cost-effectiveness. Many insurance companies cover trips to urgent care centers, but before visiting one, it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company to find out which specific centers are in- network. According to UrgentCareCenter.org, the cost for treatment at an urgent care center is usually comparable to that of a primary care visit, and generally costs less than a trip to the emergency room. (Charges vary according to individual insurance coverage.)

Comprehensive care. The American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine describes urgent care medicine as having components of both family medicine and emergency medicine. Because of this, the doctors at urgent care centers tend to have comprehensive knowledge, which allows them to address a wide array of medical issues.

Extended hours. Urgent care centers often have extended hours. For example, many of them are open past 5pm on weekdays, which can make them a more convenient option for someone who works a traditional 9-to-5 schedule.  These centers are often open on weekends as well, making them an ideal place to go when you are facing a non-life-threatening ailment but require medical attention.

Less wait time. Urgent care centers do not require you to schedule an appointment—they’ll happily accept walk-ins. Plus, time spent in urgent care center waiting rooms can be hours less  compared to the wait time at an ER.

Out-of-town help.  Traveling for business or pleasure means you’re probably not near your primary care doctor.  If you fall ill while you’re on a trip, finding an urgent care center is a good way to ensure that you get treatment even when you’re away from home.  UrgentCareCenter.org notes that in the United States, the number of urgent care centers increases by about 300 each year, and that there are already 9,000 urgent care centers nationwide. You have plenty of urgent care centers to choose from, with more on the way!

For more information about urgent care centers…

·         Visit http://www.urgentcarecenter.org/about.html for general information about urgent care centers

·         Find out what to bring to an urgent care visit here: http://www.urgentcarecenter.org/yourvisit.html

·         Locate an urgent care center in your area: http://www.urgentcarecenter.org/findacenter.php

If you’re a Health Advocate member, give us a call—your Personal Health Advocate can help you find a local, in-network urgent care center for you and your family to visit.  You don’t have to wait until you get sick to call, either—it’s a great idea to have the name and address of an in-network urgent care center on hand so that you’re prepared if an illness or injury should arise.