Broken tooth. Sprained ankle. Sniffle. Shortness of breath. Chest pain. Chances are, you know when a sudden accident or sneezing fit requires medical attention. But with so many options in emergency, urgent, or retail care, where should you go?
Make a call First, make a phone call.
In non-emergencies, call your primary care doctor, who often can see you in a day or two. “If it’s along the lines of a cough, cold, sore throat, rash that’s just itchy but not causing any other problems, or low-grade fever, the primary care physician is the best place to go,” says Amanda Bostdorf McLaughlin, a certified registered nurse practitioner and lead provider for PinnacleHealth FastCare and PinnnacleHealth Express (pinnaclehealth.org). “If they aren’t open or just don’t have availability, or they do have availability but you don’t, then the retail medicines are the best option for that.”
Many insurance companies have 24-hour helplines. “A lot of times, it’s a nurse sitting at a computer, and they have algorithms of treatments they follow,” says Dr. Vito J. DiCamillo, medical director for LG Health Urgent Care (lghealthurgentcare.org).
Call the facility directly. The Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania Injury Clinic’s 24-hour hotline, 855-OUCH-OIP, links callers with a nurse who can also contact a physician for guidance about next steps. “You can make that call and eliminate all doubts,” says OIP executive director Dr. John R. Frankeny (oip.com).
Fix broken teeth
It’s rarely good when a basketball meets teeth, and, of course, that nagging toothache is sure to flare into a giant pain just when the dentist’s office closes.
Now, there’s access to urgent dental care in some areas. Whether it’s an emergency or patients simply don’t have relationship with a dentist, services such as Smilebuilderz Urgent Dental Care can ease toothaches and fix what’s broken (smilebuilderz.com/urgent-dental-care).
When a tooth is broken or knocked out, immediate attention is demanded, says Dr. Anthony P. Skiadas, Smilebuilderz owner and co-founder. “The faster these issues are fixed, the better the long-term outlook, and the more favorable the prognosis.”
Even fractured or displaced baby teeth can require dental care to help prevent problems in the permanent tooth. In any case of tooth loss, put the missing tooth in some milk, or even put it back in the socket, because the dentist can repair it. “You want to bring it in with you,” says Skiadas
Sprains, strains, and broken bones
Urgent care and injury clinics are excellent for those hurts that inevitably happen when the doctor’s office is closed. OIP sees “ankle sprains, shoulder sprains, wrist fractures, all kinds of pediatric injuries,” says Frankeny. “If there’s anyone in the world that can do a better job taking care of you, we’ll make sure you get to that person.”
Be sure to consider the context of the injury. A sprained wrist can be treated in urgent care, but if the incident included a knock to the head or some other potentially serious bang-up, then go to the ER. “If you fall and the bone’s sticking out of your skin, you shouldn’t be coming to urgent care,” says DiCamillo. “A lot of it is common sense.”
Head to the emergency room if…
Call 911 and visit the ER if you or a loved one can’t walk or breathe, become sweaty, have a change in color, or feel chest pains, says McLaughlin. If an elderly person trips and falls, an urgent care or injury clinic can provide treatment, but if they fell because they felt dizzy or passed out, “absolutely go to the emergency room,” says Frankeny.
When symptoms include numbness or an inability to feel a limb or speak properly, get to the ER fast, because it could be a stroke, and “time is of an utmost essence,” says DiCamillo.
When your child is sick. Each case is different, but the symptoms are often your best guide, says DiCamillo:
A newborn with a fever of 100.4 or greater may need tests that a doctor’s office or urgent care could provide, but if it’s nighttime and nothing is open, head to the emergency room.
A baby’s diaper offers hints. A child with vomiting and diarrhea who is still peeing and keeping down some fluids can be seen in urgent care. However, if the baby hasn’t had four wet diapers in 24 hours and its eyes look dark, then dehydration is possible, and an ER visit is warranted.
The child who has a high fever but is still playing and eating is probably not experiencing anything major, but if that fever is accompanied with moaning and an inability to get up, it’s time to go to the ER.
If a child is breathing rapidly and can’t get words out, go to the emergency room.
Plan Ahead
A few minutes of advance planning can save uncertainty and lost time in an emergency. Research the options near you and consider these factors:
1. Does your insurance cover urgent care and drug-store retail clinics? Who has the lowest co-pays? How much will you pay in deductibles?
2. When are the nearest facilities open? Urgent care hours might be convenient but not around-the-clock.
3. Does the facility communicate with your family doctor? For example, LG Health Urgent Care sends family doctors a summary of all visits, and if you don’t have a primary care physician, they’ll help you find one.
