Don’t Put Your Healthcare on Hold
The world can move very fast sometimes, but it's important that you don't delat taking care of your health.
Even as medical offices have reopened with enhanced safety measures, many clinics and hospitals are reporting lower numbers of patients during the pandemic. Unfortunately, in some cases, avoiding medical care can be even more risky than the coronavirus.
Don’t put your healthcare on hold because of COVID-19. Read on to learn why it’s important to continue seeing your medical provider for your health needs, and how you can safely visit one during the pandemic.
Why You Should Continue Seeing a Medical Provider
It could be COVID-19. If you have COVID-like symptoms, it’s important to get tested. If your test is positive, your provider can help treat your symptoms and advise on how to prevent spreading the virus to others.
It could be something else. You need to know what’s causing your symptoms, even if it’s not COVID-19. Many patients come to us for a COVID-19 test, but learn through our follow-up care that they have another infection that needs treatment.
As an urgent care clinic, we provide complete medical services. If you test negative for COVID-19, we have the equipment and expertise to diagnose and treat a wide range of illnesses. This means you can start feeling better sooner.
Common illnesses can become worse or critical without treatment. Common conditions we’re seeing include bronchitis, ear infections, and exacerbations of pre-existing conditions like asthma and COPD. If illnesses like these progress without medical intervention, there can sometimes be serious consequences.
It doesn’t have to look like COVID-19 to be important. As patients visit us to check if their symptoms are from COVID-19, we’ve been able to diagnose and treat many respiratory illnesses. We worry, however, that patients with different symptoms are opting to stay home when they should be seeking medical care.
Avoiding seeing a medical provider can result in a longer illness duration and worse complications. If you have symptoms of any illness, we urge you to seek treatment.
Continued care gets the best results. Skipping prescription refills or your scheduled vaccines, tests and treatments can result in worse health outcomes. Always talk to your primary care physician before missing a recommended medication or procedure.
Measures for Your Safety
COVID-19 may have changed parts of our daily lives, but you can still safely seek medical care.
Many appointments have gone virtual. With Telehealth, you can see a physician without leaving the comfort of your own home. Symptoms like coughing, nasal congestion, pink eye, sinus infections, sore throat, seasonal allergies, fever, urinary tract infections, and skin conditions can qualify for a virtual telehealth appointment.
Using a secure video meeting platform, a medical provider can provide a consultation and treatment plan, or advise if you need a physical exam.
Clinics are following enhanced safety measures. Healthcare providers are taking the utmost care to minimize the risk of COVID-19 exposure in their facilities. Before visiting a clinic, you can call or check their website to see what they’re doing to keep you safe. At WellNow Urgent Care, we installed state-of-the-art air filtration systems and other safety measures, that far exceed industry standards to keep you safe. Some of these other measures include enhanced, ventilation, UV sterilization, increased cleaning frequencies, and requirements for wearing masks and physical distancing.
You can reduce your risk even further. There are many things you can do to further reduce your risk when you’re seeking medical help. Wear a mask, keep a safe physical distance, avoid touching your face, and wash your hands frequently. Leave friends and family at home unless it’s allowed by the clinic and necessary for your care.
If in doubt, call your doctor. You should never forgo medical care without first talking to a physician. Call your primary care provider or book a Telehealth visit. Together, you can make an informed decision for your health, and your doctor will be kept up-to-date on important health information.
Whether you’re visiting a WellNow Urgent Care clinic or your primary care provider, don’t put your healthcare on hold. Contact us or your provider of choice for any new medical concerns or to catch up on your regular healthcare needs.