![]() Urgent care clinics and emergency centers are an essential part of the healthcare sector. These facilities are imperative for dealing with everything from a bad cold to a major head or neck injury. While 44% to 65% of all visits to emergency centers could have been treated at urgent medical care facilities, there are certain times when it's much more appropriate to seek out medical treatment at emergency centers. Here are some various injuries and illnesses that require emergency room visits:
If you're in need of immediate medical assistance and want to visit quality emergency centers, contact LegacyER right away.
3 Comments
The long-overdue arrival of warm weather may have many of us jumping for joy, but there are those who vastly prefer a colder climate. They’d gladly give up a beach vacation for the chance to glide down a peak dusted with fresh powder. For the estimated 13.9 million active skiers in the U.S., nothing can beat a vacation in the snowy mountains. And considering that the Transportation Security Administration expects to see approximately 65.1 million travelers during the spring break season alone, that’s likely a lot of people who can’t wait to hit the slopes.
That said, you might want to take a pause before you head downhill. You may love the thrill of skiing, but how safe are you really on the slopes? Statistics show that skiers are certainly prone to injury. According to Johns Hopkins, an estimated 600,000 people are injured while skiing or snowboarding every year. That may not be such a surprising figure when you realize that many people aren’t doing enough to protect themselves while engaging in this sport. Despite the fact that protective equipment can reduce the risk of injuries to the head, neck, and face by almost 43%, only 48% of U.S. skiers actually wear their helmets on a regular basis. You may not even have to actually be skiing to get hurt. Around 6% of skiers report that they’ve been injured on the ski lift during their expeditions. Still, the majority of skiing injuries do occur when an individual falls or loses control during a jump; only a small percentage of injuries occur during collisions with other skiers. But while you may not always have perfect judgment when calculating a jump or navigating a slope, proper protection can prevent some of the most serious damage that occurs during skiing accidents. If you’re injured in a skiing accident, what should you do? As with many other sports injuries, you can often seek treatment for these physical damages at your local urgent care clinic. Breaks, sprains, strains, and other non-life-threatening events can all be handled by the professional and courteous staff you’ll find at walk-in centers. Of course, it’s always best to try to prevent these injuries before they ever happen -- but if and when they occur, you’ll know where to go. ![]() Tis the season. The weather is warming up, the sun is out, and people are gearing up to accidentally injure themselves. Don't take that the wrong way, we're not trying to be morbid, it's factually accurate. Back in 2015, urgent care centers reported seeing 12,000 patients per day on average. That's about three patients per hour. Those numbers tend to increase when the weather is warmer. Add a holiday weekend and you've got a nice recipe for bumps, bruises, and minor illnesses. Nobody likes to think about illness, injury, or urgent medical care on a holiday. In that spirit, we've compiled some common Memorial Day physical issues seen all too often and how easy they are to avoid. Easy does it, grillmasterMemorial Day is the first foray into the grilling season, something that you haven't done since the last time it was warm out in late fall. Rusty and haphazard grilling land people in immediate care from burns more often than you think. Other related medical treatments are instances of food poisoning. Neither makes for a good time on a holiday, so make sure your cooking conditions are sanitary and you're not burning the house (or yourself) down. Don't swing so hardOut come the tennis racquets, golf clubs, softball bats, and yard games. In an effort to prove leisure sports dominance, a lot of people overexert themselves, forgetting the winter months they weren't very active. Then out come the ice packs, acetaminophen, and physical therapy sessions. When you're tempted to swing that club hard enough to outdrive your buddy, think twice lest your back remind you of its limits. Or, at least stretch beforehand. It's still cool outTemperature changes lead to bold fashion choices that can easily end with minor illnesses like springtime colds. As soon as the temperature rises above a certain point and the sun comes, lots of people think they're invincible only to be quickly reminded that we're not quite in July yet. Dress for the weather. It's notoriously damp and the temperature fluctuates in the spring, don't get bogged down by an avoidable cold. These injuries share a crucial commonality: excitement in the face of warmer weather. We understand that. Winter was long and cold, everyone's excited to get out in the sun and play, adults and kids alike. Look out for your body while you're getting excited and the memories of your Memorial Day won't look like an urgent care. For senior citizens and others with medical conditions in the U.S., access to health insurance is essential. But prior to the Medicare program’s existence, these policies were much harder to come by. In 1965, only 54% of the nation’s population had health insurance coverage. By 2013, however, approximately 98.4% of seniors had health insurance.
Medicare isn’t only for those who qualify due to age. This coverage also extends to those with disabilities. Of the 55.3 million Medicare beneficiaries in the U.S. during 2015, 46.3 million received Medicare due to age while 9 million received Medicare coverage due to disabilities. In either case, being able to enroll in a national program like this has allowed American citizens the opportunity to obtain the services and the medications they need without paying exorbitant costs out-of-pocket. That said, the Medicare program is not always easy to understand. There are several parts of Medicare, each designated by its own letter and meant to cover different services. Medicare parts A and B, which are known together as Original Medicare, are the only components administered directly by the federal government. While parts A and B do not cover all healthcare costs, they do cover a number of services that beneficiaries need. Medicare Part A is sometimes referred to as “hospital insurance.” It covers hospital stays, home health services, skilled nursing facility care, and hospice care. For those who were in the workforce for 10 years and paid Social Security taxes for 10 years (40 calendar quarters), this coverage is free. Those who have worked and paid taxes for a shorter period of time have to pay a monthly premium for this coverage. Medicare Part B is used for more common medical services like doctors’ visits, preventative care, outpatient treatment, and even medical supplies. But unlike Part A, Part B isn’t free for anyone. Beneficiaries must pay a monthly premium for this coverage. In addition, patients may have to pay for 20% of certain services (such as physical therapy or some doctors’ appointments) or equipment (such as wheelchairs, commode chairs, and diabetes supplies) even after they reach their deductible. What’s actually covered by Original Medicare is determined by three main bodies: federal and state governments (through legislation), local organizations (i.e., whether products/services are considered medically necessary), and the Medicare program itself. That means that some products and services are excluded from Original Medicare coverage. For instance, neither Medicare Part A or B covers prescription medications. That’s why many seniors and those with disabilities determine they need additional coverage to help shoulder these costs. Medicare Part D is one policy that offers outpatient prescription drug coverage. In 2008, approximately 25.4 million Americans were enrolled in Medicare Part D programs. It’s important to note that Americans who have enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan (also known as Part C) cannot enroll in Part D, as Medicare Advantage already comes with prescription drug coverage. Some beneficiaries may find that Medicare Part D doesn’t provide all of what they need. Supplemental policies, aptly known as Medigap, can help close the coverage gaps and ensure overall costs are more manageable. Both Medigap plans and Medicare Part D plans are purchased through private insurers, rather than through the federal government. Understanding the many components of Medicare can be a daunting task, but it’s essential to know what’s covered under certain policies -- and which of your healthcare providers are within your network. Medicare Parts A, B, and D can help countless Americans make healthcare more accessible and affordable, assuming you do your research and fully comprehend your coverage. Raising children is a full-time job that doesn't come with any training. Moms and dads alike often learn the struggles of parenting as they go along.
Certain aspects of parenting can be based solely on common sense, yet can be as difficult as unfamiliar territory. One of those aspects can be accidental poisoning. Children are naturally curious and inquisitive, which isn't always a good thing. Not only that, but they tend to enjoy putting things in their mouths. The combination of the two can often be disastrous. There are many household items which should be monitored and/or locked away, out of the reach of tiny hands. MedicationsYour medication was prescribed to you based on the results of advanced diagnostic and laboratory services by a trained physician, and they are meant for you alone. While it would make sense then that those prescription drugs can be lethal if ingested by children, there are many more medication-related household products that can have the same effect. Cold and flu syrups, lozenges, and other remedies can all be extremely hazardous. Also mouthwashes, vitamins, antiseptics, antibiotics, sleep aids, antidepressants, heart medications, and many more. Even if they don't pose a significant poison threat, they can often be choking hazards. It's important to make sure any medications or the like are up and out of children's reach. Hygienic and Cleaning ProductsAs stated before, things like mouthwash can be extremely poisonous to a child. The list of possible dangers continues with cleaning and hygiene products. Detergents, cleaning sprays, dishwashing soaps, drain cleaners, bleach, turpentine, and room deodorants can all be lethal household cleaning products. Hygiene products such as toothpaste, creams, ointments, shampoos, perfumes, aftershaves, and more are all extremely hazardous. Even though it can be taxing to continuously keep these items out of reach, it's imperative to the safety of your child. Simply leaving them on a vanity or underneath the kitchen sink isn't always enough. Plants and Other ProductsAlcohol, tobacco, drugs (the not-so-legal kind), essential oils, pesticides, glue, batteries, gardening products, and automotive products such as oil, gas, and other fluids can be common household products that are potentially lethal if ingested. Even some plants can be poisonous to children if eaten such as oleander, foxglove, datura, and arum lily. You should also be sure not to have any plants indoors or on the property that have berries or colorful, bright leaves that might attract a young child. If your child ingests any of these aforementioned products or any one of countless others, you should seek medical attention immediately. While advanced diagnostic and laboratory services might be required, often all that is needed is a simple blood test. Your emergency care provider will know the best route to take, depending on what was ingested. An urgent care for kids can also be a good place to take a child that has been accidentally poisoned, and many provide convenient care with emergency facilities that are open 24/7. There are 7,357 urgent care centers in the United States as of 2016, an increase from 6,707 in 2015, according to Urgent Care Association of America. If your child has been accidentally poisoned, there are many options available to seek treatment. If you need advanced diagnostic and laboratory services and/or poison treatment in the Texas area, call us today. |
Archives
January 2019
Legacy ER & Urgent CareLegacy pioneered retail healthcare in 2008 and is now ranks in the top 1% of global retailers for customer service. Categories |
When to Come? |
About |
|