The Right Care Starts Here: How to Choose Where to Get Medical Care

The Right Care Starts Here

A sore throat, a twisted ankle or sudden chest pain can leave you with the same question: Where should I go for help?
“The answer depends on your symptoms and how serious they may be,” said Bayhealth Vice President and Chief Health Information Officer Jonathan Kaufmann, DO. “Bayhealth offers emergency services, walk-in care and even virtual urgent care to help you get the right care when and where you need it.”

Emergency care: When minutes matter

Call 911 immediately for signs of a heart attack, stroke or another life-threatening emergency. Warning signs include chest pain or pressure, severe difficulty breathing, sudden trouble speaking or weakness on one side of the body. Do not drive yourself if you may be having a heart attack or stroke.
Other reasons to seek emergency care include:

• Loss of consciousness or new confusion
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Severe or worsening abdominal pain
• Serious head, neck or spine injuries
• Major burns
• A severe allergic reaction with swelling or difficulty breathing
• A seizure, especially with difficulty recovering afterward

Walk-in care: When you need an exam

Walk-in or urgent care is a choice for illnesses and injuries that need prompt attention but are not life-threatening. It can be especially helpful when your primary care clinician is unavailable.

Common reasons to visit include:

• Ear pain or a sore throat
• Mild cold or flu symptoms
• Minor sprains or suspected minor fractures
• Small cuts or minor burns
• Limited rashes

An in-person visit allows a clinician to examine you and decide whether testing, imaging or treatment is needed. Available services vary by location, so check before you go.

Virtual urgent care: Care from your couch

For some minor illnesses, help may be as close as your phone. Bayhealth@Home connects patients with board-certified physicians through a smartphone, tablet or computer, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The service can evaluate concerns such as colds, flu symptoms, sinus symptoms, pink eye and rashes. Visits cost $64, with access to a physician in as few as 10 minutes.

“Patients with non-life-threatening conditions can be seen safely and quickly at home rather than waiting in an ER. It saves them time and frees up those resources for others in our community,” said Dr. Kaufmann.

Some concerns require a hands-on exam or testing, so a virtual visit may lead to a recommendation for in-person care. To get started, download the Bayhealth@Home app or visit Bayhealth.org/Virtual-Urgent-Care.

Unsure? Get guidance

If symptoms are mild and you’re unsure where to go, contact your primary care clinician or your health plan’s nurse advice line. If symptoms are severe, sudden or potentially life-threatening, seek emergency help at once.

Bayhealth Total Care in Milton combines emergency and urgent care in one location at 18383 Hudson Road. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For other care locations and hours, visit Bayhealth.org/Locations.