From Memorial Hospital
It’s easy to stay in the habit of only seeing a provider when something seems “off,” but establishing routine, primary care is essential to your overall health.
There are plenty of options for care, and with so many to choose from, you may wonder when to see a primary care provider, when to use telehealth and when to visit a walk-in clinic. Here’s some details about each to help you distinguish among your options and help you decide.
WHAT IS A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER?
Primary care providers attend to your general healthcare needs. You will benefit from a long-term relationship with a primary care provider who knows your medical background and understands what is important to you. Traditionally, primary care providers fall into three specialties:
- Family medicine: treating patients of all ages
- Internal medicine: treating adults
- Pediatrics: treating children
WHAT IS TELEHEALTH?
Telehealth provides the opportunity to speak directly with some providers from your mobile device. The convenience of telehealth means you can visit with a provider from the comfort and safety of anywhere for minor illnesses and injuries. On-demand service means these visits can happen quickly, usually within 15 minutes of requesting an appointment.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A WALK-IN CLINIC?
Sometimes, when the unexpected happens, you may need to see a provider fast. If your injury or illness is not life-threatening, and it doesn’t require an emergency room visit, walk-in clinics allow you to get the care you need quickly. You also can establish long-term care with a walk-in clinic provider.
It’s important to note that certain limitations may apply for prescription refills requested during telehealth and walk-in clinic visits. Also, while minor illnesses and injuries can be addressed via telehealth, a walk-in clinic or a primary care provider, you should see your primary care provider for preventative wellness checks.
To learn more about Memorial Health System, visit wearememorial.com or call (228) 867-5000.
