Urgent Care Is The Place To Go – When You Need It Most

Urgent care centers are performing yeoman service for the public by treating non-life threatening illnesses in quick time.

No appointment is needed and practically no waiting time.

But in these corona virus pandemic times, the settings and scenario have changed.

For example, a doctor medical clinic near Arlington strictly abides by CDC protocols to safeguard patients and health professionals from getting infected by corona virus.

Some of the steps that are in place include:

• Visitor management – screening patients who may have symptoms of Covid-19 and referring them to an appropriate hospital if needed

• Continuing to provide care for non-Corona virus patients and identifying patients that need higher acuity care 

• Remotely monitoring clinical signs of medical conditions like blood pressure and blood glucose

• Advising patients who think they may have Covid-19 to use online self assessment tools instead of visiting the urgent care clinic 

A doctor at Arlington medical clinic says, “We are very particular about use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Defense against all forms of transmission is essential to keep our staff healthy especially during high risk encounters. 

“We also encourage patients to wait in their car so as to reduce people in the clinic. In the waiting rooms, we have spaced chairs at 6 feet distance”.

In most urgent care clinics, if the physician decides the patient has mild illness, appropriate medication is given with instructions on self care and monitoring of symptoms. 

Urgent care has not sidelined care for diseases other than corona virus. 

These healthcare facilities are continuing to be in the frontline to treat patients for all types of minor illnesses.

It is no wonder urgent care is a fast growing segment in the American health care system. 

Convenience of course is one aspect of its popularity. 

It is open after hours and on week days. Another positive feature is these facilities are offering much more than just physician check up.

Under one roof you have x-ray facility and provisions for blood tests.

The services offered include STD panel, hormone panel, liver panel, stool parasites panel, and even cancer panel.

STD testing is rapid and anonymous. 

It is no surprise that the urgent care was an $18 billion industry in 2018 with over 7600 centers in the United States. The figure today in all probability is higher.

Urgent medical conditions do not pop up with a warning.

Accidents and falls are common. So is the case with sprains and strains.

Sore throats, cough, fever, and urinary tract infections are frequent occurrences.

All these cannot be neglected, nor can you wait if such health issues arise at odd hours.

Yes, serious injuries, heart attacks, strokes, or severe burns need immediate attention from specialists.

In such situations, you must dial 911 for immediate help or rush to a hospital. 

If you have a medical problem but not an emergency, an urgent care center is the best bet to get quick and affordable care. 

Two Things That You Must Carry While Visiting A Walk-In Clinic

Most people now prefer visiting a walk-in clinic near them when they want to get treated for some common ailments such as bronchitis, infections of different types, sore throats, rashes, minor sprains, and small injuries from burns and cuts. 

The key reason why they prefer visiting a walk-in clinic instead of their regular family physician or a primary healthcare facility is the convenience that the walk-in clinics offer on many fronts.

Walk-in health clinics have emerged as an acceptable alternative for individuals and families looking for a convenient and comfortable way of getting treated for health issues that are not of a life-threatening nature. It is a great option for relatively healthy patients without a complex medical history. 

When you plan a visit to a walk-in clinic, it is always better to be prepared as it can help the physician and the support staff attend to your complaints quickly and provide the appropriate medical care efficiently.

You can choose to visit the nearest Arlington medical clinic if your regular doctor is not available and you want immediate medical assistance. So what are the things you should take to a walk-in clinic for a better experience? 

Your Medical History:

If the physician can have access to your medical history file it can help them make a proper assessment based on this information. They will be able to address the health issue more effectively. Based on your past health history and current lifestyle, the physician will be able to locate the source of your discomfort and provide the best possible medical solution for your problem. 

Your Insurance Information:

The administration at the Arlington medical clinic will be able to serve you better if they have access to your insurance details. Remember, medical care is a costly affair despite the fact that getting treated at a walk-in clinic will cost you much less than what you would pay at a regular medical clinic. Your insurance card will help in keeping the treatment affordable. Insurance plans of all major providers are accepted at leading walk in clinics companies so you don’t worry about medical costs when you walk in for getting treated at such clinics.

Walk in clinics have a reputation for delivering faster medical care than conventional healthcare facilities. However, it is possible that the physician might detect a health issue that might require detailed medical investigation. In such situations, you might have to spend some more time at the walk in clinic for undergoing routine diagnostic tests. 

It is, therefore, a good idea to take something along to kill time. A good book will help you spend the waiting time more comfortably. Some light music can also do you a world of good. Carry your headphones along and plug into your favorite songs stored in your smartphone. 

Not sure where the nearest walk in clinic is located? Simply search for the ‘walk in clinic in arlington’ online and you will get detailed information about the best one complete with the area map, timing, etc. 

Health Screening: 10 Benefits of Visiting Arlington Medical Clinic

Health screenings have brought a revolutionary change in healthcare. Thanks to screenings, doctors can detect diseases before patients show symptoms. This helps to catch a disease in the earliest stage, which is easier to treat. 

You can easily walk in an Arlington medical clinic and get yourselves tested for common conditions. The clinics offer tests like: cancer panel, Dementia panel, cholesterol panel, kidney panel, liver panel, blood tests, stool and parasite screening, and STD testing. 

Cases of cervical cancer and breast cancer are widespread among women across the world. So, doctors also recommend screening for these two cancers. In men, prostate cancer is rampant. 

Also, it is important to test yourselves for osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. 

Please consult your doctor for the list of tests that you need, as per your overall health status, age, lifestyle, location, family history of diseases, and other factors. 

If you are sexually active with multiple partners, you must walk in an urgent care clinic on a priority basis and get yourselves tested for STDs. This also applies for individuals who have unprotected sex with their spouses, who have never been tested for STD. 

Benefits of visiting an urgent care clinic for screening

• You need no prior appointment to see a doctor, unlike visiting a hospital or your family physician’s urgent care. Just walk in and get yourselves tested or consult a doctor. 
• You need no doctor’s prescription to undergo a test. 
• It is not mandatory to seek treatment from a doctor at the medical clinic you underwent test. You can simply collect the reports and get treated elsewhere, if you wish. 
• Patients without insurance are also welcome in such clinics. 
• You can find ample parking space. Underground parking is free. 
• The clinic is open all days of the week and on holidays, besides being open in extended hours. So, you need not take leave from office for tests. 
• The clinic is located at an accessible place. It is just a block away from Pentagon Metro City. 
• The clinic proves to be lesser in expense than a traditional healthcare setup. 
• You are in hands of highly qualified doctors and friendly staff when in such a clinic, so worry not.
• On patient’s request, the clinic conducts STD testing in a discreet manner. The patient can also do the billing anonymously. 

Do not ignore symptoms

For undergoing health screening, it is not important that you must get the symptoms. Even if you are feeling well, you can undergo screening. This is like a preventative measure. 

However, there are times when our bodies signal that something is wrong. You must not ignore persistent pains in the body, persistent headaches, frequent dizziness, pain or tightness in the chest (this should be addressed at the first time itself), persistent fatigue, decrease in enthusiasm or interest in daily activities, and other such symptoms. 

Decrease in enthusiasm or interest is one of the signs of mental disorder. You could be depressed. Prolonged depression can manifest into physical illness. So, beware! 

Walk in an Arlington medical clinic at the slightest hint of illness. Be safe. Be healthy.