Where should you go for medical care?
Primary Care vs Urgent Care vs Emergency Room
Is this something you’ve heard before?
“Should I just go to my normal doctor?” says the patient.
You went to work today despite feeling ill. You’re not sure how sick you are (it could be allergies, who knows?). and you decide it’s not worth it to reschedule everything you have planned for the day. You’ll still take your daughter to ballet class, cook supper, and finish your presentation in a few hours. You know you should see a doctor, but you don’t have time to phone, leave a message, wait for a callback, be placed on hold, pull over, pull out your calendar, and finally set an appointment for two weeks from now when you know you’ll be fine!
What about that urgent care center you pass 5 times a day?
You’re well aware that what you have isn’t “urgent…”
You’re certain you won’t need to go to the emergency room…
Primary Care
What is primary care?
Primary care is a distinct branch of medicine that includes health care providers who are specifically trained and skilled in health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, patient education, and the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. These providers are usually family medicine doctors, internists, and pediatricians.
When is it appropriate to seek primary care?
It’s critical to schedule periodic doctor’s appointments, including your annual physical exam, in order to preserve your overall health. Your primary care physician builds a comprehensive picture of your past and current health over time in order to better protect you against future health problems. Your primary care doctor can also assist diagnose and treat minor illnesses and injuries in between checkups.
Where can you go for primary care?
We recommend that you Google search for “primary care doctors near me”, “family doctor near me”, or “pcp doctors near me”. Check out this article we wrote on how to find the right primary care physician for you.
Lowell Family Office is a primary care clinic that offers same day appointments. Schedule your appointment today.
Urgent Care
What is urgent care?
Urgent care clinics are same-day clinics that may treat a wide range of health problems that require rapid medical attention but are not life threatening. While primary care clinics receive patients during regular business hours Monday through Friday, urgent care clinics are open after hours, on weekends, and on holidays.
When should you go to an urgent care facility?
Though you should always try to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician before going to an urgent care clinic, you can use urgent care for non-emergency issues that develop when your primary care physician is unavailable, such as:
- Sore throat, earache, or sinus discomfort are examples of upper respiratory disorders.
- Allergic responses that aren’t life threatening
- Rashes and minor skin infections
- Burns of a minor nature
- Bites from insects, small animals, or humans
- Infections of the urinary tract
- Cuts, contusions, and abrasions of minor severity
Where can you go for urgent care?
Urgent care are typically stand-alone clinics located in convenient locations. We recommend that you Google search for “urgent care near me” or “walk-in clinic near me”.
Lowell Family Office is a primary care clinic that offers same day appointments, just like an urgent care center! Schedule your appointment today.
Emergency Room
What is an emergency room?
An emergency room (ER) is a section of a hospital or medical institution dedicated to treating patients who have had a medical emergency or trauma. Emergency departments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and offer full emergency medical support and services to walk-in patients.
When is it necessary to visit an emergency room?
When presented with a severe, life-threatening ailment, always seek emergency care. If you or someone close to you is suffering any of the following emergency symptoms or conditions, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room straight away:
- Symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, such as chest aches
- Seizure
- Consciousness loss
- Pain in the abdomen
- Pain or injury to the head
- Poisoning
- Choking or breathing difficulties
- Open fractures, major cuts, burns, or uncontrollable bleeding
- Fever in old people or little children
Where can you go for emergency care?
Emergency rooms are typically located inside hospitals. We recommend that you Google search for “hospital near me.” Steward Holy Family Hospital is a top rated hospital serving Northern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.
Lowell Family Office is conveniently located right across from Holy Family Hospital in Lowell! We frequently see discharged patients from the hospital. Schedule your appointment today.
I really appreciate how you explained more about primary care and when you should go to it. I’ve been thinking about finding a primary care doctor to take the family to. It’s good to know more about it so we can find the right fit.