urgent care

When to visit a walk-in clinic vs. emergency room

Sometimes, you just need immediate medical treatment for a non-life-threatening condition. Whether it’s a cough, cold, fever, eye or ear infection, insect bite, or skin allergies, non-life-threatening is not necessarily non-life-affecting. These conditions can prevent you from going about your day normally and resting.

There are healthcare care facilities in Wellington, Florida, that have extended hours and are open on weekends where you can receive prompt medical care without having to make an appointment. They are called walk-in clinics, and they serve your medical needs for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

Walk-In Clinic vs. Emergency Room

You may be wondering, “How about the emergency room?” When primary care providers’ clinics are closed, there is the option of the emergency room. If you have visited the emergency room for a medical condition that is considered a non-emergency, chances are, you had to wait a long time to be seen, or you were asked to wait to see your primary care provider during regular hours.

Triage nurses in emergency rooms will assess your condition and determine its severity. Patients with conditions that are considered non-emergencies tend to have longer waits. Moreover, emergency room visits are expensive. You could receive treatment for a wound and be billed a shockingly high amount, which is largely the facility fee. All in all, it is better to save emergency room visits for true emergencies.

When to Visit an ER:

You should visit an ER when you have severe, life-threatening symptoms. Examples include:

  • High fever
  • Choking
  • Breathing issues
  • Passing out or fainting
  • Head and neck injuries
  • Complex fractures (there is evidence of deformity or bone pushing through the skin)
  • Severe pain anywhere in the body
  • Serious burns
  • Deep wounds
  • Severe bleeding
  • Severe allergic reaction; anaphylaxis
  • Numbness, weakness, or drooping on one side of the body

These are symptoms of life-threatening illnesses and injuries, suggesting a medical emergency, and should be treated in an emergency care facility.

When to Visit a Walk-In Clinic:

A wide range of non-life-threatening conditions can be treated at a walk-in clinic. Examples include:

  • Headaches
  • Sinus infections
  • Eye infection
  • Ear infections
  • Colds and flu
  • Strep throat
  • Sore throat
  • Tonsillitis
  • Fever
  • Insect bites
  • Mild skin allergy reaction or rashes
  • Small cuts, blisters, or wounds
  • Mild sprains and fractures
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain

A walk-in clinic can also provide other services, such as DOT physicals, women’s health exams, such as Pap smears, as well as vaccinations and immunizations.

Wellington Walk-In Clinic

The decision to visit a walk-in clinic can save you time and money. Patients are advised to find out ahead of time their options for care to be better prepared. If you are seeking urgent care for your medical condition, visit the Advanced Medical clinic in Wellington. We are a primary care clinic providing walk-in care. Unlike other Wellington walk-in clinics, at Advanced Medical, you will receive care from expert primary care providers.

The Advanced Medical clinic is located in the Palomino Park complex on Hwy 44. We also have a location in Royal Palm Beach, at 1236 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. If you have any questions, give us a call at (561) 434-1935. We look forward to providing for your urgent medical needs!

Can Whiplash Cause Depression?

Whiplash is a type of neck injury that occurs after a fast-paced vehicular or sports accident. The sudden, forceful motion during the accident can cause the neck to overextend, causing the vertebrae to become misaligned. Pain from whiplash can be physical and psychological.

You may not automatically connect whiplash with depression, but there is a connection between the two. Depression is common in those with whiplash-associated disorders. Let’s discuss how whiplash could cause depression.

Why Whiplash Could Lead to Depression

Long-Term Whiplash Injury Complications

Alignment issues in the cervical region, in addition to the co-occurring soft tissue injuries, can impede normal blood flow to and from the brain, causing other medical conditions such as chronic pain, which is also linked to depression. For some, the problems that arise from whiplash can be long-term. Pain, stiffness, migraines, dizziness, and ringing in the ears are just a few examples of long-term effects associated with whiplash.

The long-term effects of whiplash can include depression. Without getting back to normal function, the patient can be psychologically impacted. This is compounded by thoughts of the accident, such as feeling angry, scared, or anxious.

Recovery

Another cause of depression due to whiplash may be the recovery period required. Soft tissue injuries can take up to 10 weeks to heal. For some, whiplash symptoms can persist even at the six-month mark or longer, which means the condition is chronic. Patients with chronic whiplash tend to have higher incidences of and increased levels of anxiety and depression.

Recovery from whiplash takes time, and during this period, the patient is limited in the activities they can engage in. For instance, sports and exercise are going to be off-limits, as the patient will need to wear a collar or neck brace to prevent movement and to support the neck as it heals.

Don’t Want to Become Depressed After Sustaining a Whiplash Injury?

In order to get the best possible outcome from whiplash treatment, it is important to seek treatment immediately after being involved in a sport or vehicular accident. Moreover, entrust your care in the hands of experts in whiplash treatment. Whiplash is usually treated using a combination of physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, various pain management techniques, and orthopedic care.

Whiplash Treatment in Royal Palm Beach and Wellington, FL

At Advanced Medical, our primary care providers provide treatment for patients with whiplash. We are committed to your recovery. We will make sure our treatment plan is highly individualized for effectiveness and to reduce complication risk. We also coordinate care with other specialists, such as chiropractors and physical therapists, to give you the best chance at a fast recovery. We also treat patients with chronic pain and other long-term complications from whiplash.

If not treated in a timely manner, whiplash can cause serious health conditions. To schedule an appointment for whiplash treatment, call us today at (561) 434-1935 or use our appointment request form. We look forward to helping you get back to your life, pain-free.

Most Common Injuries You Can Have Treated At A Walk-In Clinic

A walk-in clinic is a place you can go to receive urgent treatment for a non-life-threatening injury. This facility is built for your convenience and is open for longer hours with the ability to receive patients with little or no wait time and without an appointment.

You know all too well that small accidents can happen at night or on weekends, which can mean a trip to the emergency room, or it could mean waiting until you can see a primary care provider for it. Common injuries are not a priority in the ER. Plus, it’s expensive getting treated there for common injuries. Whereas waiting to see a primary care provider may not give you peace of mind, and the symptoms can be overwhelming.

It pays to know your options for the next time you or a family member sustains an injury or medical emergency that is not life-threatening. Find out what common injuries can be treated at a walk-in clinic.

Injuries Treated at a Walk-in Clinic

Walk-in clinics vary in the services they provide. A walk-in clinic providing quality urgent care services should be able to treat patients with the following injuries:

  • Cuts and lacerations – open wounds can be cleaned and stitched shut to prevent infection and to assist with healing.
  • Sprains and strains – severe sprains and strains need stabilization and the use of bandages and splints.
  • Splinters – removal of foreign objects to prevent damage from infection and internal damage.
  • Fractures – fractures need to be immobilized with a brace, cast, or splint to encourage proper healing of the injury and to reduce pain and swelling.
  • Dislocations – a dislocated shoulder can be manipulated back into place and immobilized for the healing process to begin.
  • Burns – first-degree burns, where the skin is red but not blistering, can be cleaned and treated in a walk-in clinic. Burn ointment can be applied to prevent infection and provide relief from pain.
  • Car accident injuries such as cuts, scrapes, bruises, and whiplash – the providers at a walk-in clinic can provide prompt evaluation following a car accident and determine the seriousness of the injury. A cervical collar may be used to enhance the healing of a whiplash injury.

Walk-in clinics are an excellent resource for patients needing urgent treatment for common injuries. To get the highest quality treatment for injuries, choose one with board-certified medical professionals on the team.

Royal Palm Beach and Wellington Walk-in Clinic

At Advanced Medical, our health care providers include a board-certified internal medicine provider, Dr. Ishan Gunawardene, and board-certified nurse practitioner, Dr. Shariffa Gunawardene. We are a healthcare team composed of caring and compassionate professionals offering patient-centric care.

If you’ve sustained an injury, we can provide a quick diagnosis and treatment to begin your recovery. We have many on-site conveniences and can provide continuity of care. Each patient’s treatment is personalized and will be overseen by Dr. Gunawardene.

If you have any questions or to let us know that you are coming, call (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment online. We look forward to serving you in our Wellington walk-in clinic.

The Benefits of Seeing a Family Medicine Provider for Your Primary Care Needs

A family medicine provider is able to offer a comprehensive range of services, including preventive and urgent care services for many acute and chronic illnesses and conditions, alongside many on-site conveniences such as diagnostic testing and routine vaccinations. They can offer many benefits and be a great solution for many of your family’s primary healthcare needs.

Aside from medical emergencies, which require a visit to an urgent care center or emergency room, a family medicine provider can offer an extensive range of services for you and your family’s healthcare needs. They have the expertise and knowledge to work with patients regardless of their age or sex, allowing them to diagnose and treat conditions that affect the entire family.

Family Medicine Providers Follow Your Lifecycle

Family medicine providers treat a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions. They can provide the appropriate diagnosis and treatment for a variety of common illnesses and conditions ranging from joint and back pain, allergies, and ear infections to sport and work injuries and minor medical emergencies, such as cuts and burns. Family medicine providers can take care of your primary care needs through all stages of your family’s lives, allowing you the opportunity to establish a good lasting relationship with your family medicine provider and a continuity of care for all members of your family.

Thorough Knowledge of Personal and Family History

Because family medicine providers can work with you over a long period of time, they can get to know your medical history inside and out. This enables them to make accurate diagnoses and look out for red flags for emerging conditions or changes in your health through the years. Also, seeing multiple generations of a family can help record an accurate, in-depth family health history and allow your family medicine provider to offer appropriate screenings or identify potential red flags for particular conditions that may run in the family.

Range of Healthcare Provisions

Family medicine providers cover an extensive range of healthcare provisions, meaning there is less need to access additional healthcare providers, which can be costly, time consuming, and stressful. Not only do family medicine family medicine providers provide medical care for acute and chronic illnesses and minor injuries, they can carry out assessments such as annual physicals and wellness screenings. They can also provide diagnostic testing, such as CT scans and MRIs, and perform minor surgical procedures, such as freezing a wart or draining an abscess.

A family medicine provider can deliver personalized, ongoing care for chronic conditions, such as asthma, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and high blood pressure, so if you or a member of your family does develop a chronic medical condition, your provider can help you manage it long-term. Their goal is to prevent complications, avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and specialist referrals, and to keep you as active and healthy as possible. If treatment in a hospital or extended care facility is necessary, a family medicine provider sees you through treatment and can assess your rehabilitative progress to determine the most effective follow-up steps in your personal treatment plan.

Some of the areas of expertise that family medicine covers include:

  • Diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and minor injuries
  • Routine check-ups and screening tests
  • Vaccinations and immunizations (including childhood immunizations)
  • Physicals (for employment, insurance, sports, school, and camp)
  • Disease prevention, detection, and management
  • Treatment and management of chronic conditions
  • Some minor surgical procedures
  • Weight management and advice on healthy living
  • Women’s health (including gynecologic exams, Pap smears, and preventive medicine)
  • Blood draws, EKG and echocardiography, and pulmonary function testing
  • Geriatric medicine

Finding You the Right Specialist

If there is a need for specialist treatment, your family medicine provider can coordinate with specialists on your behalf to make sure that all of your medical needs are addressed appropriately. They can also ensure that other healthcare providers involved in your care have all the necessary information regarding any conditions you may have and the medications you take.

Family Medicine Providers in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida

If you are looking for personalized, quality health care for you and your family, visit Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida. We offer high quality primary and urgent care services and are dedicated to providing preventive care to our patients in order maintain wellness.

To learn more about the services we offer, or to arrange a visit, call us today at (561) 434-1935 or you can request an appointment online. We offer same-day and walk-in appointments for your convenience.