Health and Wellness
When to go to the Emergency Room
Nobody wants to wait in an emergency room, only to find out they didn't need to be there. Emergency room visits are rising rapidly, but more than 50 percent of the cases are not emergencies, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
One of the reasons patients are choosing the ER, even in non-emergency situations, is because of the need for a no-appointment visit. To meet this need, and save patients money, Boscobel Area Health Care has a walk-in clinic that operates evenings and weekends.
"Walk-In care is less expensive than emergency care, but still operates on an open door basis. It is ideal for someone who needs a physician right away but does not have a true emergency," said Community Relations Coordinator Mary Sprosty.
Before calling 911 or getting into the car for a trip to the ER, consider the health condition.
Call your doctor or visit walk-in care for these types of conditions:
- A minor earache
- Minor cuts where bleeding is controlled
- A sprain
- A minor sunburn or minor burn from cooking
- Insect sting or delayed swelling from a string
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Colds, cough, sore throat, or flu
Go to the Emergency Room with
- Loss of consciousness
- Signs of a heart attack, including pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the chest
- Signs of a stroke, such as sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, less, or loss of vision, speech, or severe headache.
- Severe shortness of breath
- Bleeding that does not stop with direct pressure.
- Poisoning
- Severe reaction to an insect bite or string, especially if breathing is difficult.
- A major injury or head trauma
- Coughing up or vomiting blood
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
