tips for protecting your good health

Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Urgent Care Visit

6 June 2019 by Sasha Meyer

Whether you are out of town on vacation or your family physician simply doesn't have any available appointments, then you always have the option of going to a local urgent care clinic like Walk-In Family Medicine Center if you are ill or have a minor injury and want to see a doctor.

However, since the provider who will see you at the urgent care clinic won't know anything about your previous medical history, there are a few things you need to do to ensure you get the most out of your visit. 

Listed below are some tips to help you do so:

Tip: Check to See if Your Health Insurance Covers Any Local Urgent Care Centers

While many urgent care centers operate on a cash-only basis and don't accept health insurance, others do take various insurance plans for payment. Before you head out to a cash-only clinic, first check to see if you can go to a clinic that's covered by your health insurance policy. 

Tip: Write Down Any Relevant Medical Information Before Your Appointment

When you arrive at the urgent care center, you will be asked to fill out some paperwork. To make this easier, sit down before you leave home and write down all of your medical information, including the following:

• chronic medical issues
• medication allergies
• list of past surgeries and approximate dates
• the name, address, and phone number for your family doctor

Armed with this information, you can easily fill out the medical forms and will be able to provide the doctor you see with the necessary information about your past medical history.

Tip: Take Your Medications With You to Your Appointment

Since the provider you see at the new clinic may want to prescribe medication for you or might need to know about other medications you are currently taking, you need to provide them with this information. While you can always take the prescription bottles with you or make a written list, the easiest way to take along this information is to snap some quick photos of the labels with your cell phone. 

Tip: Go to the Emergency Department When Necessary

Lastly, it's important to note you should never avoid going to the emergency department of your local hospital if you believe you might have a life-threatening illness or injury. If you have chronic medical conditions or at high-risk for complications from otherwise common illnesses, then it's just not worth the potential risk to wait for an appointment.

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