Medical situations happen to everyone, from chronic illness flare-ups to accidents, injuries, and illnesses. How do you know what you can see an urgent care specialist for, and when should you seek emergency treatment instead?
When you need prompt and expert care for a medical situation that’s not a life-threatening emergency, Dr. Ulin Sargeant and her team offer a full range of urgent care services at Monrovia Internal Medicine & Primary Care, or MIMPC. Dr. Sargeant sees new and existing patients at MIMPC from around Duarte, California. Here’s what you should know about urgent care.
The benefits of urgent care
Medical needs like illnesses and injuries often require a medical professional. Without the right care, you could be facing longer-than-needed recovery times or unnecessary and difficult medical complications. Even simple cuts can become dangerous if infected, for example. That’s where urgent care comes in.
For non-emergency medical needs, you can save time and money with urgent care support instead of a trip to the ER. Crowded emergency rooms mean long wait times, and emergency care can be expensive.
The team at MIMPC provides the same quality care you’d receive at the ER, and it’s a lot easier to get in to see Dr. Sargeant! You can even use our telemedicine services on short notice to see an urgent care specialist without ever having to come into the clinic if you suddenly develop an illness such as the flu, for example.
Conditions that urgent care can help
Urgent care is a great option for many pressing but not life-threatening health care needs. Illnesses like pneumonia, strep throat, sinus infections, and pink eye can often be addressed with an urgent care visit. So can mild infections like urinary tract infections (UTIs).
If you notice an unusual skin rash or irritation, get it checked out with urgent care. Urgent care can also help with allergic reactions and asthma attacks.
You can also use urgent care for some accidents and injuries. If you fall or slip, and end up with a wrist or ankle sprain or minor finger or toe fracture, you can see an urgent care specialist for treatment and advice about proper healing.
When you need emergency care
While the ER can be more expensive and time-consuming than urgent care at MIMPC, there are some medical situations where you need emergency care right away.
You might need to visit the ER when:
- You’re struggling to breathe
- You experience changes in consciousness
- You have a fracture where you can see bone
- You suspect a stroke or heart attack
If you’re experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or head straight to the ER.
When you need medical care today, urgent care can help. Get in touch with Dr. Sargeant and Monrovia Internal Medicine & Primary Care to schedule an urgent care appointment, or visit our virtual office now.
