The pandemic has, for many, greatly heightened our senses to our bodies, how we’re feeling and any symptoms that seem out of the ordinary. Whether it’s the onset of a cold, flu, COVID symptoms (or even a broken arm) many people aren’t sure where to go for care—a primary care physician, urgent care facility, or the emergency department at the local hospital.
The following guidelines, which pertain to both adults and children, will help simplify the process so you have a better understanding.
Emergency Department. The emergency department at your local hospital has everything needed to make a complete diagnosis, including a CT scan, MRI, STAT labs, X-rays and EKG. If you think you are experiencing an acute medical emergency, such as chest pain, weakness on one side of the body and/or difficulty speaking, severe headaches, a broken bone, the emergency department is the most appropriate place to go. While it has everything needed for a diagnosis, bear in mind that there may be a wait since medical professionals will assess symptoms once you arrive and see patients in order of the acuity of symptoms.
Urgent Care. Urgent care facilities tend to have radiology services, STAT labs, EKG, and can handle a lot of urgent issues, including non-complex fractures, suturing, or stapling and provide same-day visits. Chances are you’ll be seen in a timely manner and get your issue resolved quickly. However, due to the limitations of some advanced testing, you may be asked to go to an emergency department if the acuity is deemed to be too high. Some hospitals offer an urgent care center, so if your hospital happens to have one, chances are the doctor there may already have access to your medical chart. MarinHealth’s Urgent Care center in Terra Linda, for example, is linked to Marin Health EMR, so the doctors there have access to your medical chart and can see all of your relevant medical information.
Primary Care Physician. An outpatient primary care physician’s office doesn’t include radiology or the ability to suture/staple (usually). They do have EKG and might have access to STAT labs, but it might involve a separate trip to these places. Most primary care physician offices usually have “pre-scheduled patients” and only a few spots are available for same-day visits. Urgent Care and the ED are designed to handle walk-ins, as well as same-day visits. The advantage of going to your primary care doctor is that you already have a doctor-patient relationship and your ongoing care can be continued. However, if you need to get lab work done, or need radiology services, you may have to wait a day or two for the diagnosis.
Telehealth visits. Telehealth visits work best for non-acute issues. Physicians rely a lot on a physical exam, which helps guide the next steps for care. However, if you think you may have COVID-19, a physician may prefer a telehealth visit first to assess whether an office visit is necessary and may also suggest getting a COVID test first.
Care in the COVID era
When seeking care, remember that despite the COVID-19 variant, it is indeed safe to go to the hospital. Hospitals are taking every precaution in place to ensure that you are as safe as possible, and medical staff is taking every precaution to keep both themselves and their patients safe. Be sure to wear a mask at all times when visiting.
One last piece of advice. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. If in doubt, seek the most comprehensive care available. In general, if you are in severe pain, it is best to seek treatment urgently. Emergency departments and urgent care centers exist to provide the most expedited care for the really sick, and they’re your best options after office hours and for weekend emergencies.
Be well and live wise.
Elizabeth H. Lowe, M.D., specializes in internal medicine and is board certified in both internal and medicine and pediatrics. A graduate of Chicago Medical School, she completed her residency and internship at Loyola University of Chicago. She is affiliated with the MarinHealth Medical Network and can be reached at (415) 795-7000.
