Accidents happen every day, no matter how careful you might be, luck is something you can never predict. There are so many things we can’t control in our lives and getting injured is one of them. Even if we watch out for everything we can, there are always other people who might not be as careful as you.
This is why it is important to know what to do when the worst happens and you end up in an urgent care center. Staying calm is always the number one priority, whether you are injured or you are with someone injured. When this happens, here are 4 things you need to ask for when you need urgent care.
1. What can they treat?
Urgent care centers are designed to treat a broad range of conditions, but they might lack some specific treatments. According to this Manhattan Beach urgent care center, they usually treat everyday illnesses and injuries like the flu, colds, and fractures. They can also provide immunizations and other procedures including EKG and X-rays. Couple this with minor surgeries and basic lab testing, and urgent care centers can cover a lot of treatments.
2. What antibiotics do they use?
When you come in with an open wound in an urgent care center, their priority will be disinfection. With this disinfection, they will also give you antibiotics in case some microorganisms already got through the wound.
You need to ask them what type of antibiotics they have in case you have an allergy. For example, if they give you penicillin if you are allergic to it, that can be worse than the wound itself. Every urgent care center should be equipped with a broad range of antibiotics for these situations.
3. How does this couple with my other problems?
Every one of us has at least one chronic problem or some other kind of medical problem. It is important to ask the doctors at the emergency care center how this accident affects your other problems.
It is important not to be shy in these moments because they need this information to do their job correctly. They can’t do their job properly if you do not tell them everything about your medical history. This is why you should have someone with you at the ER center so they can explain everything because you will probably be under a lot of stress.
4. Is this covered by my insurance?
Unfortunately, the American healthcare system is quite dystopian and it prioritizes money over medical care. This is why you need to ask if this accident is covered by your insurance because these trips can take a toll on your wallet. Even just a simple sprain can cost you thousands of dollars if it isn’t covered by your insurance.
Asking these 4 questions can make the entire process of recovery a whole lot easier. It is important to stay vigilant and stay strong in these emergencies because nothing good happens when you panic. However, when you are calm and ask the right questions, you can influence the situation to go for the better. We may not be able to control the situations and chances around us, but we can modulate how we respond to them.