The world of telemedicine has made it possible to get your regular appointments taken care of online, lowering your risk of exposure to dangerous illnesses in your Doctor’s office. There is now also the option to take your minor emergencies to a virtual caregiver. Deciding when to go in person and when to use virtual services can be tricky, however.
Regular Doctor Vs. Urgent Care
If you have a minor fever, coughing, and sore throat, you can probably monitor your symptoms at home and visit your regular doctor either online or in person. However, if the fever goes up or the throat begins to burn, you will need to contact urgent care. Watch for changes in any condition or complaint to help you make the best decision on when to step up your decision to seek care.
Virtual Vs. In-Person Urgent Care
If you take a tumble and get a bad scrape, you may be able to clean it up at home with the help of a virtual care provider. Should you be worried that you broke something because of a high level of pain but there’s no sign of disruption along the line of the bone, an in-person virtual visit is likely called for.
While you may have a quality first aid kit at home, do keep your limitations in mind. If you’re on a blood thinner, handling a cut at home may not be safe. Compression and elevation should be enough to slow bleeding, but if they’re not, reach out. If you fall because you got dizzy, you probably need an in-person appointment.
Urgent Care Vs. Emergency Room
The emergency room should be the first place to go if you experience
- any breathing limitations, such as swelling in the airway or severe congestion
- uncontrollable bleeding
- a deformed limb, such as a joint that bends in ways it shouldn’t or a bone that’s obviously crooked
- pain that forces you to stop moving, breathing, or talking
There are many conditions that are important but not an emergency, but if you have suffered an injury, an allergic reaction, or a sudden illness that limits oxygen or motion, you need to get to the ER quickly.
Prepping for your Virtual Urgent Care Session
You’ll need a camera with decent lighting on your laptop or mounted near the desk. Don’t worry about looking your best; your caregiver needs to not only note the injury and hear about your symptoms but will also need to check your agitation and stress level. They’ll want to see if you’re composed enough to communicate effectively.
During your Georgia virtual urgent care appointment, you may need to let your caregiver know of any medications you’re on, any chronic conditions you’re managing, and any recent changes to your health. If you fell and scraped your arm, it may be tempting to blame your new shoes. However, if you’re on a new blood pressure medication or a new dosage of insulin for your diabetes, the fall could be related and you will probably need to follow up with your physician.
Urgent care services are extremely useful and virtual urgent care can keep you safe and healthy without the angst of a trip to the emergency room. However, it’s not a good idea to be stoic about a small condition or injury that could easily turn into a big one. If you get a burn, icing it may be enough, but an infected blister could lead to serious health concerns over time depending on your age and circulatory health.
