How do I know what level of medical care I need?
Medical problems can be roughly divided into three categories, emergency, urgent and physician care. There are often overlaps at the boundaries of these categories that can sometimes make it difficult for you as a patient to decide which level of care is appropriate.
Emergency care is perhaps the easiest to recognize, since it involves serious medical conditions that could threaten a patient’s life, or lead to permanent impairment. Typical situations where you should seek immediate care through an emergency department at your nearest hospital include:
- Severe chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Uncontrolled heavy bleeding
- Gunshot or deep knife wounds
- Poisoning or potential poisoning
- Compound fractures with protruding bones
- Heart attack or symptoms that may be heart attack such as prolonged chest pain
- Symptoms of stroke, including slurred speech, sudden weakness, sudden numbness, confusion, or vision loss
- Moderate and severe burns
- Extreme fever, or any fever in a newborn less than three months old
- Problems related to pregnancy
- Severe pain in the abdomen, particularly when accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever
- Serious injuries to the head or spine
What defines urgent care?
Urgent care clinics fit a niche between physician care with Dr. Wilson and an emergency room visit. Urgent conditions are those that are not life-threatening, but still, require treatment within about 24 hours. Since same-day appointments are available at Maxwell Medical Group, you may see Dr. Wilson for your urgent care needs, unless they fall outside of office hours, such as at night, weekends, or on holidays.
- Health issues regarded as urgent care needs can include:
- Minor bone breaks, including possible fractures in fingers or toes
- Cuts with minor to moderate bleeding that may need stitches
- Falls or other accidents
- Fever, flu, coughing, or a severe sore throat
- Eye irritations
- Minor breathing difficulties, such as those associated with mild asthma
- Skin Rashes
- Sprains or strains, including minor to moderate back pain
How can I make a same-day appointment?
Call the office at any time during normal business hours to find out about same-day appointments. If Dr. Wilson and his team are not able to fit you in, they will advise you of your options.
