Nurse is bandaging man’s arm after blood donation
Did you know 12.4% of emergency room visits result in a hospital admission?
When you’re sick or have a minor injury, the last thing you want is to visit the emergency room. If you’re debating whether or not your medical condition requires a visit to the ER or urgent care, you came to the right place.
Read on to learn when you should visit a Mason urgent care clinic.
What Is Urgent Care?
If you’ve ever had a minor medical issue that does not require you to visit your primary care doctor or the emergency room, you might have been left wondering where to go.
Those who have experienced a minor medical emergency that doesn’t require a visit to the emergency room will likely go to urgent care. You will get medical care for minor health concerns at urgent care when your doctor’s office is closed.
However, if you’re experiencing one of the following medical conditions, you should visit the emergency room:
- Poisoning
- Severe burns
- Deep wounds
- Gunshot wounds
- Severe abdominal pain
- Heavy bleeding
- Serious head or neck injuries
- Suicidal thoughts
As a rule of thumb, if your medical condition is not life-threatening, but you cannot wait until the next day, you should consider urgent care. It important you differentiate when you need to visit a Mason urgent care facility and when you need to call 911.
1. Minor Lacerations and Wounds
If you cut your finger while cutting vegetables, dropped something on your foot, or accidentally hammered your finger, you can visit an urgent care facility.
They will be able to x-ray your finger at urgent care to check for broken bones or stitch you back together. They will evaluate your wounds and lacerations, and even give you a tetanus shot and prescribe antibiotics.
2. Strains, Broken Bones, and Sprains
If you sprained an ankle or your child took a fall during soccer, urgent care is a great place to start, especially if you don’t want a lengthy wait at the emergency room.
At urgent care, they will start by taking an x-ray and evaluating the injury. If you, in fact, have a broken bone or ever sprain, they will be able to set it or put it in a cast.
For more complex broken bones, they will refer you to the emergency room.
3. Diarrhea and Nausea
If you get severe diarrhea or nausea on the weekend or after hours and cannot see your primary care doctor, you should visit urgent care.
At a Mason City urgent care facility, the medical professional can evaluate the cause, severity and treat your diarrhea. They will help you prevent major dehydration and ease other symptoms such as nausea.
You might need a follow-up with your primary care doctor after the issue subsides to ensure there’s not a larger underlying condition. If your child had an issue with diarrhea, you should follow up with their pediatrician after an urgent care appointment.
4. Minor Allergies
Although you should go to the emergency room or call 911 if you’re having a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction, you can go to urgent care to treat mild reactions.
If you’re experiencing hives, itching, or a skin rash, you can head straight into urgent care. They should be able to find the source of the allergy and treat it. However, if you feel your throat closing, you should call 911 instead.
5. Insect Bites and Other Skin Rashes
If you got bitten by an insect or have a suspicious skin rash, you should visit an urgent care facility. A medical professional should be able to identify the type of bug bite and treat it accordingly.
They can also treat most skin rashes caused by a variety of reasons. For example, if you were on a hike and suspect you came in contact with poison oak, they can treat it at urgent care.
6. Bronchitis or Coughing
At most urgent care facilities, you can get treatment if you’ve developed bronchitis or pneumonia. However, due to COVID-19 concerns, a Mason urgent care facility will ask that you call in advance if you suspect you could have been exposed.
They will ask you if you’re experiencing cough, shortness of breath, fever, fatigue, sore throat, headaches, and anosmia. Once you get in touch with the facility, they will let you know if testing is necessary.
7. Cold and Flu Symptoms
If you have a cold or suspect you might have the flu, you can visit an immediate care facility. They will be able to evaluate your symptoms and treat the flu with fluids, antibiotics, and plenty of rest.
As mentioned in the previous point, a Mason urgent care facility should rule out COVID-19 before you go into the facility.
8. Vaginitis
Vaginitis is another condition that might require women to take a trip to the doctor’s office. If you’re having a vaginal issue when your gynecologist is closed, you can visit an urgent care facility.
Women suffering from vaginitis might experience vaginal itching, discomfort, and discharge. Luckily for women experiencing these issues, a trip to urgent care and provide them with immediate treatment.
Once they evaluate the issue, they might recommend over the counter medication or write a prescription.
9. Bladder or Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract or bladder infections are common in both men and women. These infections are extremely uncomfortable, but they can get treated at an urgent care facility.
You don’t have to wait to get an appointment with your doctor or visit the ER to get relief from this uncomfortable condition. At a Mason urgent care clinic, they can treat this condition in men and women.
Are You Ready to Visit a Mason Urgent Care Facility?
Now that you know when you should visit a Mason urgent care facility, it’s time you get the treatment you need. Before you take a trip to the emergency room, you can evaluate your condition.
You should go to an emergency room facility if you’re experiencing a UTI, minor cut, vaginitis, insect bites, allergies, and sprains.
Click here for Mason City clinic office hours and appointment information.