Where Should You Go Emergency Room, Urgent Care or Virtual Visit?

WHERE SHOULD YOU GO EMERGENCY URGENT ROOM? CARE? or or VIRTUAL VISIT?

If you or a loved one are hurt or ill, panic and confusion can make it difficult to know what to do. If you feel you’re experiencing a medical emergency, it’s important to get to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

Sometimes you might not be sure if your condition is considered an emergency. If it’s not, you can get the necessary care through your personal doctor, a virtual visit or an urgent care walk-in clinic. Two questions can help you determine which type of care is right for you.

What’s the difference between emergency care, urgent care and virtual visits? An emergency is an illness, injury, symptom or condition so serious that a reasonable person would seek care right away to avoid serious harm. You typically receive emergency care at the emergency room.

Urgent care is for an unexpected injury or illness that is not life threatening, but still needs attention quickly so it doesn’t develop into a serious problem. You may get urgent care at your personal doctor’s office, a walk-in clinic or an urgent care facility.

Another option for care is a virtual visit with MDLIVE®. A virtual visit is a convenient way to get care through your computer, smartphone or tablet. Most Network Health plans offer virtual visits as an alternative to urgent care visits for non-emergency medical conditions. For more information, see the next page.

What if I’m not sure if it’s an emergency? Being prepared and knowing what to do before an emergency can help you make the right decision quickly. For help determining if your situation is an emergency, you can contact your personal doctor. For a list of provider nurse lines, go to networkhealth.com and under the Health and Wellness tab, select Getting Care Quickly. Don’t forget to ask questions Anytime you visit the emergency room, a walk-in clinic or see your personal doctor, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions about your care is the best thing you can do to ensure your safety. There’s no such thing as a dumb question, especially when it comes to your health. If something doesn’t seem right or make sense, ask about it.

Your coverage for each of these services varies depending on your plan. Be sure to call the member experience team at the number on the back of your member ID card or visit your member portal at login.networkhealth.com to verify your benefits.

Whichever form of care you choose, make sure to share information about the visit with your personal doctor.