Quick, Urgent & Emergency Care Facilities

nn BY JENNY O’DONLEY

How do you know where to go?

Traditional health care is booming in Columbia, and there’s no shortage of primary care physicians and specialists to meet your needs. But what happens during evening hours, weekends or other times when your regular doctor isn’t available? That’s when quick and urgent care facilities come in.

So how do you know where to go? Take a quick assessment of your injury or illness, and seek help accordingly. If it’s a severe or life-threatening emergency (such as chest pain, severe breathing problems, major bleeding or unexplained loss of consciousness), call 911 or head to the ER right away (see listing on page 73). But for minor health concerns or serious but not life-threatening issues, quick or urgent care are great options that not only provide the skilled medical attention you need but also help you avoid a long wait in the ER.

Quick Care

Minor health issue but still need quick service? Choose quick care for fast, convenient care for common health issues when you aren’t able to visit your primary care physician. Staffed by nurse practitioners and physicians assistants, these facilities typically treat patients 24 months and older. Go here for sore throats, minor cuts and wounds, cold, cough and flu, etc.

Mizzou Quick Care: (Located in Columbia Hy-Vee grocery stores) 25 Conley Road | 573-884-0169 405 E. Nifong Blvd. | 573-884-0146 3100 W. Broadway | 573-884-0036 mizzouquickcare.com

Urgent Care

More serious issue but not at emergency-room level? Urgent care is your best choice for immediate but not life-threatening health care issues. These facilities

Quick Care? Urgent Care? Emergency?

Ask Your Care Provider…

Do you participate in my insurance plan? Just like when

choosing a primary care physician, make sure you check what insurance plans are covered before seeking treatment. Do I need follow-up treatment/tests? This

information is not only important to you, but your regular doctor will likely also want to discuss next steps. Can you explain that again? If

you don’t understand an aspect of the service or treatment plan (tests, medication, etc.), always ask for clarification. When will I get my results? You might need to call the clinic back to get results. Clarify this before leaving the facility. Can I get everything in

writing? Make sure you get written documentation of your diagnosis, prescribed medications, instructions for follow-up treatment, the name of the facility and the doctor or nurse who treated you. This may be used for insurance purposes, as well as following up with your primary care doctor.

Remember Primary Care

Urgent and quick care facilities have grown exponentially over the past decade, filling a void for individuals who can’t access their regular medical doctor on nights, weekends and holidays. But one of the biggest fallbacks of quick medical treatment is that it lacks continuity of care. At quick and urgent care facilities, the providers’ purpose is to offer quick, easy access to affordable health care only when your regular doctor isn’t available. A primary care physician knows your medical history and provides care accordingly. That’s why urgent care

is a supplement to regular care, not a replacement.

provide treatment for all ages and are staffed by physicians. Urgent care providers treat everything that a quick care facility does and more, such as sprains, strains and minor fractures, but should not replace primary care physicians.

Mizzou Urgent Care 3916 S. Providence Road | 573-882-1662 muhealth.org Boone Convenient Care 601 Business Loop 70 W., Parkade Center, Suite 275 | 573-874-0008 900 W. Nifong Blvd., Suite 101 | 573-815-6631 boone.org/convenient-care NextCare Urgent Care 202 E. Nifong Blvd. | 573-874-6824 403 N. Stadium Blvd., Suite 104 573-818-6500 nextcare.com/find-your-location/ Emergency Care

Potentially life-threatening? Go straight to an emergency department for severe and life-threating conditions. Chest pain, severe breathing problems, major bleeding and unexplained loss of consciousness are all emergency situations. Call 911, and go to the nearest ER immediately. These facilities provide treatment for all ages and are staffed by physicians.

University Hospital Emergency Department 1 Hospital Drive | 573-882-4141 muhealth.org Women’s and Children’s Emergency Room 404 N. Keene St. | 573-771-9400 muhealth.org Boone Hospital Center Emergency Department 1600 E. Broadway. Entrance on S. Ann St. | 573-815-3501 boone.org Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Emergency Care 800 Hospital Drive, Room E107 573-814-6000, ext. 52301 columbiamo.va.gov l