People deal with getting sick or having accidents all the time, leading to trips to the hospital for millions. So far this year alone, over 155 million emergency room visits (an average of 47 out of 100 people) have happened, and sadly, there’s a good chance we’ll see more before the holidays are over.
These trips included a variety of issues, such as injuries and critical care, and resulted in over 18 million hospital admissions. But when something happens, and you need medical help, how do you decide whether a walk-in clinic or an ER visit is the right choice?
Orangevale and Rancho Cordova, California, residents seeking medical help can rely on a range of services from Dr. Andrew Nanagalama and his team at American River Urgent Care.
An exhaustive report compiled from several countries lists common reasons people seek medical attention for their problems, including coughing, abdominal symptoms, back pain, fever, headache, respiratory issues, and fatigue.
Medical practices reported the most visits for upper respiratory infections, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, depression, anxiety, middle ear infections, back pain, dermatitis, and routine check-ups.
Emergency room visits should be reserved for situations that require immediate attention, including medical issues like chest pain, heart attack, stroke, inability to move, passing out, uncontrollable bleeding, large wounds, broken bones, severe burns, and head injuries. Emotional and mental health emergencies are also included.
These are events that your regular doctor is not generally qualified to manage on his own and would refer you to the ER to get medical attention as quickly as possible. ERs are also open all hours at hospitals, making it necessary if things happen outside your doctor’s regular hours.
This option is also for managing problems in extended hours past when most regular medical offices are closed, but it's not equipped to handle dire medical situations.
This means they cover things like minor cuts and burns, back and muscle pain, diarrhea, earaches, headaches, skin problems, sprains strains, joint pain, upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and vomiting. Generally speaking, problems that should be resolved as soon as possible, but not potentially severe issues.
Walk-in visits are just that: things you can drive to on your own, for the most part, and manage with a physician to treat. ER visits should be used for ambulatory or other situations where people are driven in when they can’t manage them on their own. The answer isn’t always that straightforward, but it’s often the case.
If you’re struggling with urgent care needs, contact Dr. Nanagalama and the team at American River Urgent Care today.
