HEALTH + WELLNESS
Primary Care Provider, Urgent Care Clinic and Emergency Department
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? Sooner or later, we all find ourselves in this spot: your child wakes up with a fever, your spouse slips walking down the stairs, or that cough just keeps coming back. You or someone you care for needs medical attention, but you are not sure of the best place to go. Is it an emergency, or is it late at night or on weekends? As we have learned during the pandemic, sometimes we need both traditional and nontraditional ways access to care. In some situations, the clearest path is calling 911 or going to the emergency room, but what about options that are quicker and more tailored to a specific need or injury? Primary care providers, urgent care, and hospital emergency departments are all part of those solutions. Let’s examine the details available for each choice: 34
VIPMagSC.com
June 2022
Primary Care Provider The best place to receive care and to establish a regular relationship for you and your family is with a primary care provider. Appointments are usually open during normal business hours, and some providers have extended hours and weekend appointments. See your primary care provider for the following conditions: • Common colds, flu, fever, rash, earaches, infections, sore throats and migraines
Angela Saxon, DNP of McLeod Primary Care & Chronic Care Specialists
• Sprains, minor broken bones, back strains or pain, minor cuts, burns or eye injuries • Health screenings and vaccinations or when you need to talk to someone about a medical concern • Management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, asthma, and COPD (just to list a few)
