April 6, 2018 at 4:45 p.m.
Urgent Care or the E.R.? How to know where to go for help
Urgent Care or the E.R.? How to know where to go for help
"When your health problem is life-threatening or serious, the immediate choice we recommend is our local hospital emergency department," said Dr. Bill Melms, Marshfield Clinic Minocqua Center Urgent Care. "If you have a minor injury or illness, you may save money and time by calling your primary care provider or coming to the Urgent Care in Minocqua."
Emergency care is for serious medical conditions when delaying care could cause permanent harm or death.
"Sometimes it is obvious, but other times it's hard to tell if you have a health emergency, or if you have something less critical that could be treated in an urgent care setting," Melms said.
Health care emergencies best treated at a hospital emergency department include:
• Coughing up or vomiting pure blood.
• Unexplained severe pain or pressure in the chest.
• Sudden dizziness, weakness or vision loss or change.
• Unusual confusion or difficulty walking, speaking or breathing.
• Fainting or loss of consciousness.
• Spinal or severe head injuries.
• Heat exhaustion or hypothermia.
• Severe abdominal pain or abdominal pain associated with persistent vomiting.
• Trauma as a result of high speed collision, such as motor vehicles.
• Domestic violence or sexual assault.
• Falls from greater than 10 feet, such as a roof.
• Amputations.
• Fever in a child less than 4 weeks old.
When to choose urgent care:
• Mild to moderate abdominal pain.
• Broken bones, if not poking through the skin.
• Sprains.
• Cold or sore throat.
• Fever or flu.
• Red or blistered burns.
• Mild asthma.
• Cuts or wounds.
• Skin irritations and rashes.
• Urinary tract infections.
• Minor trauma, low speed or falls.
• Non-life threatening condition that needs attention.
The clinic's Urgent Care department is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekends and most holidays. Call (715) 358-1105 or 800-347-0673 for more information.
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