Reasons To Visit Urgent Care
Our urgent care doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners treat conditions that arent life-threatening but still need care right away for people of all ages, such as:
- MSHSAA sports physical $30 at time of service.
- Urinary tract infections
- Work-related injuries
We also provide X-rays and lab services, such as blood tests, as well as breathing treatments and services for asthma and respiratory infections.
If you have a serious or life-threatening condition, call 911 for emergency care.
When To Go To The Hospital For An Allergic Asthma Attack
The first step in treating an allergic asthma attack is to use a rescue inhaler or other rescue medication. You should also move away from any source of allergens that might be triggering the attack.
If symptoms dont improve after using rescue medications, or you have severe symptoms, call for emergency medical help. In the United States, that means dialing 911 to call for an ambulance.
Severe asthma attacks share many symptoms with mild to moderate asthma attacks. The key difference is that the symptoms of a severe allergic asthma attack dont improve after taking rescue medication.
You might wonder how you can tell the difference between symptoms of a severe attack that requires emergency treatment versus a mild attack that you can treat on your own. Always seek emergency medical attention if your rescue medication doesnt seem to be working. You should go to the hospital if you notice any of these symptoms:
- intense shortness of breath and difficulty speaking
- very rapid breathing, coughing, or wheezing
- straining chest muscles and difficulty breathing
- a bluish color in the face, lips, or nails
- difficulty inhaling or exhaling completely
- confusion or exhaustion
- fainting or collapsing
If you use a peak flow meter a device that measures your peak airflow you should go to the hospital if your readings are low and arent improving.
Spirometry Helps Diagnose And Manage Asthma
A spirometry test can confirm whether you have asthma or another disease. And it helps your healthcare provider decide on your treatment. A spirometry test can also show how well your treatment is working. If follow-up spirometry tests show that your asthma is well controlled, your treatment is working. If it shows that your asthma is not under control, your doctor may need to change your medicine or give you more medicine.
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When To Seek Medical Help For An Asthmatic Reaction
Asthma attacks range from mild to severe. This is because the body has different responses to different allergens. Depending on how strongly the body reacts to the allergens, you may experience a simple allergic reaction, an asthma attack, or anaphylaxisa very dangerous reaction that can be deadly.
Heres how to tell which youre experiencing, and when to seek medical attention fast:
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When Should You Have A Spirometry Test
Children older than age five, and adults of any age, who have asthma-like symptoms should have a spirometry test. The healthcare provider should also do a physical exam and a full medical history. If the test shows that you have asthma, your doctor should prescribe asthma medicine. Then you should be retested four to six weeks later. If your test results improve, your treatment is working. You may even be able to take less medicine. If your symptoms get worse, you should have another spirometry test. If your symptoms are controlled, you should have a test at least once every year or two.
This report is for you to use when talking with your healthcare provider. It is not a substitute for medical advice and treatment. Use of this report is at your own risk.
02/2014
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The Test Can Save Money
A spirometry test generally costs less than $100. Not having the test can cost a lot more money. If the test shows that you do not have asthma, this can save you hundreds of dollars a month for asthma medicines. If you do not have the test and you have asthma, an emergency room visit for an asthma attack can cost thousands of dollars.
What Are Common Emergency Room Wait Times
Emergency room wait times vary according to hospital and location. Patients in the ER are seen based on how serious their condition is. This means that the patients with life-threatening conditions are treated first, and those with non-life threatening conditions have to wait.
To help reduce ER wait times, health care facilities encourage you to plan ahead for care, so when youre sick or hurt, you know if the ER is right for your medical condition.
An emergency room visit can take up time and money if your problem is not life-threatening. Consider other care options, such as an urgent care center, convenience care clinic, your doctor, or a virtual doctor visit all of which could be faster and save you money out of your own pocket if the medical problem is non-life threatening.
If you have health insurance, be sure to check your plan documents to see what types of care options are eligible for coverage under your plan, including whether or not you need to stay in your plans network.
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Asthma Cancer Symptoms Causes And Treatment
Symptoms
Urgent care is appropriate for people with mild to moderate asthma symptoms, such as:
- Bothersome coughing or wheezing
- Mild chest tightness or shortness of breath
- Difficulty sleeping due to shortness of breath or coughing
These symptoms may worsen in cold weather, during exercise or when exposed to irritants like pollen or certain chemicals.
Emergency asthma treatment is sometimes necessary. Call 911 immediately if you or a loved one are experiencing signs of severe asthma, which may include:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, even while at rest
- Little to no improvement in symptoms after using a rescue inhaler
Causes
Multiple genetic and environmental factors can lead to asthma, even though its root cause isnt fully understood. Substances, behaviors and illnesses that cause asthma symptoms are known as triggers. Each persons asthma triggers will vary, but common triggers include: Stress and anxiety
How Much Does It Cost To Go To An Emergency Room
Emergency Room costs can vary greatly depending on what type of medical care you need. How much you pay for the visit depends on your health insurance plan. Most health plans may require you to pay something out-of-pocket for an emergency room visit. A visit to the ER may cost more if you have a High-Deductible Health Plan and you have not met your plans annual deductible. HDHP’s typically offer lower monthly premiums and higher deductibles than traditional health plans. Your plan will start paying for eligible medical expenses once youve met the plans annual deductible. Here are some tips to pay less out of pocket .
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Try To Be Really Diligent About Reducing Your Risk Of Getting Covid
All of the above means its extra important to avoid contracting COVID-19 if you have asthma . The CDC recommends staying home whenever possible, staying at least six feet away from other people if you do have to go out, washing your hands with soap and water regularly for at least 20 seconds, and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces frequently. You should also wear a cloth face covering if you have to leave your home and will be in places where its hard to maintain that six-foot distance.
With all of that said, the main way to avoid contracting COVID-19staying at homeis a lot easier said than done for many people. I don’t want to tell people, just stay home, Goodman says. I completely understand the need to earn a paycheck and the fact that the government benefits are not coming fast enough.
When To Use Telehealth
If you’re experiencing the following, you can have your doctor appointment over the phone or video chat. These conditions can be treated through telehealth when you can’t make it to an urgent care center.
- Flu-like symptoms, such as sore throat, fever, coughing and congestion
- Urinary tract infections
- Joint aches and skin infections
- Infections of the urinary tract, ear or upper respiratory system
- Rashes, insect bites or sunburns
-
Mild or moderate asthma attacks
The great thing about telehealth is that it lets you get care from the comfort of home. If it’s after normal business hours, you’re traveling outside your network area or you just can’t get to the doctor’s office, it’s the perfect solution. The doctor can even send your prescription to the nearest pharmacy.
Plus, most doctors charge less for a telehealth visit than an in-person visit. On average, telehealth saves consumers $100 per visit when you consider time, mileage and cost of services.
Telehealth is also a good option for therapy appointments for conditions like depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and bipolar disorders. Learn more about telehealth for mental health treatment.
More and more doctors are now offering telehealth. Contact your doctor today to see if they offer it, or find out more about telehealth.
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Urgent Care Vs Emergency Room Cost Without Insurance
The average urgent care visit costs patients $80 to $280 for primary care. Patients may incur additional costs for shots, x-rays, and labs. The average emergency room visit costs $2,200.
In general, going to urgent care is significantly less expensive when compared to the emergency room. Hereâs a breakdown of out-of-pocket pricing when it comes to certain services you may receive during a visit:
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Management Of Refractory Cases
Three randomized controlled trials and a systematic review72 showed additional benefit when magnesium was given to patients with severe asthma exacerbations who had not responded to standard -agonist therapy. Two level I studies that found no such benefit did not limit treatment to unresponsive cases. The safety of magnesium and the potential benefit justify its use in people with severe asthma who fail to respond to titrated bronchodilators and glucocorticosteroids.
Parenteral bronchodilator therapy may be indicated when the inhaled route is not practical: for example, in patients who are coughing excessively, are too weak to inspire adequately or are moribund.
Intubated patients with asthma who do not respond to conventional bronchodilator therapy may benefit from an inhaled anesthetic agent with bronchodilating properties, such as ether,75 halothane, enflurane79 or isoflurane. Hypotension and cardiac dysrhythmias are associated with the use of these agents and are more likely to occur in hypoxemic patients.
The efficacy of heliox has not been confirmed in a randomized controlled trial. Benefit was reported in an observational study86 and some believe that it has a role in refractory asthma.87
In children, pretreatment with atropine is recommended to prevent bradycardia that may occur with the use of succinylcholine.
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When The Unexpected Happens And You Need Treatment Know What To Do And Where To Go
Americans make more than 130 million visits to the emergency room every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common reasons for ER visits include stomach and abdominal pain, chest pain, fever, headache and back pain.
While some of these symptoms, like chest pain, can indicate a serious condition, many can be treated at an urgent care center. Another option is telehealthwhich means having a doctor appointment over the phone or video chat.
A visit to the emergency room can cost up to five times more than a visit to an urgent care center or telehealth, so it pays to know where to go.
If You Dont Have An Asthma Action Plan Create One
Since youll be talking to a health care professional about your medications, its also a great time to discuss an asthma action plan. As the CDC explains, an asthma action plan is typically divided into three sections depending on how bad your asthma is flaring with instructions on what to do in each scenario, like how much of which medication you should take. Heres more information on how to create an asthma action plan.
Dr. Chinthrajah adds that its also important to monitor your asthma especially closely right now so you can tell if your symptoms are getting worse. We need patients to become their own asthma detectives, she says. For example, if you know that it normally takes you a couple of minutes to get your breath back after walking up the stairs and are noticing that its taking longer to recover than usual, your asthma symptoms may be getting worse, in which case you should follow your action plan.
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Choosing Emergency Room Or Urgent Care Center
The discussion of whether to go to an emergency room or urgent care center to receive after-hours medical treatment should revolve around cost and the severity of a patients condition, but surprisingly, the ultimate decision is often made for convenience.
People want medical treatment at whatever time and whatever place they can get it. With 5,000 emergency rooms providing treatment 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, emergency rooms are the most convenient choice.
The most recent data available on costs, time, resources and effectiveness of emergency rooms is more than three years old. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said there were more than 145.6 million visits to emergency rooms in 2016.
While the American College of Emergency Physicians reports that 92% of emergency visits are from very sick people who need care within 1 minute to 2 hours, the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey estimates that one-third to one-half of all ER visits are for non-urgent care.
The New England Health Institute said 56% of emergency room visits were totally avoidable. It didnt say how much of the remaining 44% could have been treated at urgent care centers, but several studies suggest many of these cases could have been handled in urgent care. In fact, the top three reasons for ER visits in 2019 were chest pains , upper respiratory infections and urinary tract infections .
What Are The Benefits Of Seeking Treatment At Hollywood Walk
Many patients find convenience in Hollywood Walk-In Clinics flexibility, extended hours, and reduced fees. A visit to the emergency room can be several times the cost of an urgent care visit.
Insurance
We try our best to keep our cash prices as low as possible, but we do also accept most PPO insurance plans. Please see our list of accepted insurance plans to the right.Please note that we are not in network with Medi-Cal , Medi-Care or any other government insurance programs.If you do not see your insurance plan listed, please call us or email at and we will get back to you as soon as possible!
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Meet The Er Doctors At The Freestanding Emergency Room Near You
We pride ourselves in providing our patients with the highest quality adult and pediatric emergency care in the Houston Medical Center. All of our physicians are board-certified in Emergency Medicine, who have extensive experience in attending to various medical emergencies such as COVID-19 Evaluation, head trauma, abdominal pain, chest pain, sports injuries, broken bones, and chest pain, diabetes, and kids emergencies. You can rest assured that you will receive prompt, compassionate care at our Houston emergency room. From asthma attacks to heart attacks, our ER in Houston is equipped to handle whatever injuries and illnesses you may be facing.
Asthma And Other Diseases Can Have The Same Symptoms
When you have asthma, the lining of the airways in the lungs swells and the muscles around the airways get tight. Then the airways get narrow.
When you breathe, you have trouble moving air out of your lungs. As a result, you may cough, wheeze, feel short of breath, or have tightness in your chest. Exercise or cold air may make the symptoms worse.
However, those same symptoms can also be a sign of other lung problems, such as a common cold, bronchitis, or pneumonia. They can even be symptoms of heart disease and other diseases.
It is important to know the cause of your symptoms to make sure you get the right treatment. The treatment for asthma is very different from the treatment for pneumonia or heart disease.
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Adrianas Insurance San Bernardino
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Asthma And Peak Flow Meters
Learning how to monitor your asthma will help you know when to seek asthma emergency treatment. Taking regular peak flow meter readings is often the foundation of good asthma control. You can do this at home. A peak flow meter is a simple handheld device. By breathing into it, you get a reading of your lung function.
When you are first diagnosed with asthma, your doctor will probably tell you to take peak flow meter readings every day for two to three weeks. The highest number you record is called your “personal best.”
Many asthma action plans are based on peak flow readings. Depending on your readings, you will take a different course of action.
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