44 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • JULY 6, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Need care today? Here are 4 choices
to try before the emergency room
A health concern rarely strikes when it’s
convenient for you, and in most cases it
occurs at the worst possible time. When
you need care and don’t have time to
schedule an appointment, what do you do?
You head to the emergency room, of
course. You wait in the long ER lines and
pay the heft y bill that concludes your visit,
all for a non-emergency situation that
required immediate treatment. It’s hardly
the most effi cient solution, and while
your health is certainly your most important
concern, there are ways to receive the
same quality care without the long wait
and extravagant expense of an emergency
room visit.
Considering the three C’s
Years ago the emergency room was
your only option when you needed immediate
care, but today’s health care market
is home to a number of fl ourishing alternative
options. To fi nd the right solution
for your situation, consider the three C’s:
care, convenience and cost.
• Care: Evaluate the severity of your
symptoms and identify what services you
need. An emergency issue should always
be treated at the ER, but if the problem
is not life- or limb-threatening, it can be
treated somewhere else.
• Convenience: It’s a good idea to know
what health care facilities are near you, as
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• Cost: Not every provider will be covered
by your insurance, so it’s important
to understand your coverage area as well
as your pre-authorization requirements.
Finding the best health care option for
you
If you face a serious health issue, you
should head to the emergency room
immediately. However, if the issue merits
immediate care but is not life- or
limb-threatening, the Urgent Care
Association of America off ers this quick
guide to your on-demand health care
options.
Urgent care centers
Urgent care centers are equipped to
handle illnesses and injuries that require
X-rays, intravenous fl uids and/or on-site
lab tests. With an emphasis on convenience,
urgent care off ers short wait times
– oft en 30 minutes or less compared
to four hours in the emergency room -
and aff ordable care, made even more so
because it is covered by most insurance
providers.
Retail clinics
Otherwise known as walk-in clinics,
retail clinics are commonly found in
supermarkets or pharmacies and specialize
in treating less serious conditions than
urgent care centers or emergency rooms.
If you have a minor illness or you need
preventative care, like a vaccination, then
a retail clinic is a logical stop for you.
Telemedicine
A product of the digital age, telemedicine
connects patients with providers
via virtual visits, resulting in lower costs
and decreased travel time. Telemedicine
services are an attractive option if you
live in a rural community or for times
when the treatment you require does
not extend beyond a consultation. Th ey
are also a handy tool for follow-up
appointments that do not require an
in-person visit.
On-site clinics
Finally, you may consider an on-site
clinic. Th is option is now off ered by
many employers as a way of providing
increased health care access to their
employees. Similar to retail clinics, an
on-site clinic specializes in off ering wellness
and preventative services - though
the specifi c services off ered by each clinic
may vary.
Finding the best solution
for you
You’ve read all the care options above
and you have a pretty good idea of the
best solution for any care need. Match
that need with the right treatment option
above and you’ll receive the same quality
care without the long wait and heft y bill of
that emergency room visit.
To fi nd an urgent care center near you,
visit www.whereisurgentcare.com.
Courtesy BPT
