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YOUR HEALTH CARE
By Kim Anderson
Being prepared
for an emergency
includes planning what you will
do if an emergency happens. Not
all situations call for the same
response, so knowing which
response is appropriate for the
situation is part of being prepared.
In northern Idaho, we are fortu-
nate to have a number of excellent
options for a variety of health care
events. Knowing how to make the
best choice for your situation will
ensure you receive timely, appro-
priate care. Here’s a look at the
types of care available to you along
with general guidelines on when to
choose that level of care.
DOCTOR ’ S
OFF ICE VISI T
If your symptoms come on
gradually or you already know the
diagnosis, such as an ear infec-
tion or urinary tract infection, you
may want to try to get a same-day
appointment with your primary care
provider. While urgent care clinics
have extended hours and accept
walk-ins, your family doctor or
nurse practitioner is usually a bet-
ter place to start when you are sick
or hurt. When you visit your doctor
for an illness or injury, he or she
knows your health history, includ-
ing any underlying conditions, and
can make informed choices about
your treatment and needed tests.
If you do not have a family doctor,
it can be hard to know how to
find one. Kootenai Clinic recently
opened an appointment center to
help people find a doctor that’s
right for them, make an appoint-
ment, and answer any questions
they may have. The appointment
center helps people find doc-
tors who are accepting patients,
including those with Medicare and
Medicaid. For more information or
to find a primary care provider, call
(208) 625-6767
.
URGENT
CARE VISI T
A study conducted by the National
Center for Health Statistics found
that of patients who had visited the
emergency room but were not ad-
mitted to the hospital, 48 percent
went there because their doctor’s
office was not open. If your doctor’s
office is closed and you need to be
seen right away, but you don’t need
the level of care available at an
emergency room, an urgent care is
a great option.
Urgent care offices are same-day
clinics that can handle a variety of
conditions that need to be treated
right away but are not true emer-
gencies. Symptoms that can be
treated at urgent care include (but
are not limited to):
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Fever without rash
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Minor trauma such as a common
sprain
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Painful urination
KnowWhere toGo
FAMI LY DOCTOR , URGENT CARE OR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ?
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Persistent diarrhea
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Severe sore throat
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Vomiting
EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT VISI T
Emergency departments are
designed to provide fast, lifesav-
ing care. They respond to a wide
variety of emergencies such as
traumatic injuries, heart attacks
and strokes. Many people, however,
use the emergency department as a
place to receive urgent care without
realizing it.
The following are just a few
of the conditions that are true
medical emergencies. If you are
experiencing one of the following
conditions or something similar, go
to the emergency department.
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Persistent chest pain or heart
palpitations
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Persistent shortness of breath or
wheezing
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Severe pain
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Loss of balance or fainting
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Difficulty speaking, altered men-
tal status or confusion
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Weakness or paralysis
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Severe heart palpitations
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Sudden, severe headache
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Sudden testicular pain and swelling
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Intestinal bleeding
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