Knowledge is Key to Good Health
Medical emergencies always generate a feeling of stress and fear of what might happen. While that is completely normal, whether it be sickness or injury, it’s very important to be prepared to seek the appropriate medical attention.
A very important factor to consider when deciding where you should go to receive medical care is the severity and type of injury. In case of a life-threatening emergency, call 911 to obtain immediate assistance. In these types of situations, every moment counts and it’s essential to act quickly when searching for professional help.
On the other hand, if there is a situation that is not putting yourself or the life of a family member or friend in danger, it’s still crucial to obtain the appropriate help to prevent worsening the injury and guarantee the peace of mind that medical attention was received, and ailment is being treated. This was the case for the Hernandez family, who live in South Phoenix and had a medical situation that required urgent medical attention for the youngest in the family.
Juan Pablo, who is just 4 years old, was acting strange. He was exhibiting low energy behavior, which was very different from his usual restlessness and his appetite was severely diminished. “That’s what worried me,” said Rosa, Juan Pablo’s mother. “Normally he really likes to eat, but since Thursday, he hadn’t eaten well. That worried me.”
In addition to the lack of appetite, Juan Pablo was irritable and when asked where he was feeling pain he doubted whether to point towards the side of his head or towards his neck, around the throat area. His mother thought that aspirin would put an end to his pain, but that was not the case.
After a few days of feeling ill, Juan Pablo’s body temperature had increased and was now at 101.4 degrees Fahrenheit. It was the weekend and Rosa had a decision to make – take her child to the emergency room or wait until Monday to meet with his pediatrician, since the office was closed on weekends.
“Definitely when there is a situation that puts someone’s life at risk, the first option should be the ER of a hospital or calling 911, but with other situations that are not as urgent, there are other options available,” said María Rebozo-La Pine, Cultural Care Product Manager for Equality Health.
These options include your primary care office, a walk-in clinic, or an urgent care center. If you or a loved one are seeking routine care, like an annual checkup, or looking for assistance in treating a common illness or minor injury that doesn’t require immediate attention, visit your primary care office.
But in Juan Pablo’s case, his primary care office wasn’t an available option. That’s when it becomes advisable to turn to a walk-in clinic or urgent care center.
“For injuries and minor sicknesses, an excellent option to receive treatment is a walk-in clinic. Walk-in clinics are designed to treat injuries and minor illnesses such as allergies and bronchitis, infections, flu symptoms and throat pain,” said Rebozo-La Pine.
For Rosa’s fortune, she noticed a walk-in clinic inside her local grocery store and remembered that an appointment was not required. Without thinking twice, the young mother took Juan Pablo to a medical consultation. The examination of the child was done by a nurse practitioner that determined the cause of Juan Pablo’s symptoms to be from an infection in one of his ears.
Medication was prescribed for the ear infection and after a couple of days, young Juan Pablo became his regular self again.
In this month’s “Cafecito Time con Equality Health” we’ll talk about what you need to know so you can prepare of medical situations. Join Maria Rebozo-La Pine this Thursday, August 26, for the virtual conversation.
“We will talk about when we should go to the emergency room, urgent care or walk-in clinic. We will learn which is our best option for each situation that’s outside of our normal,” commented Rebozo-La Pine, and added that this virtual seminar will have the participation of Carina García, who is a Care Team Coordinator at Equality Health.
The virtual seminar, “Cafecito Time con Equality Health” will start at 11:00 am in English and 12:00 pm in Spanish, and is available to watch via Facebook Live or on Zoom.
Remember that each “Cafecito” is a great opportunity to learn and develop a plan for better health and quality of life. To register for the event, visit equalityhealth.com/Cafecito.
Published in Prensa Arizona, 8/12/2021
