One study shows that 41% of adults delayed or avoided medical care because of COVID-19. That includes 12% of people who avoided medical care for urgent or emergency medical situations. 

COVID makes getting care for medical needs a little more complicated. You might be nervous to go to a medical care facility, or you might be unsure where to go for help. But delaying or avoiding medical care can make your situation much more dangerous.

Keep reading to learn more about getting care when it’s not COVID-related.

Know Where to Go for Getting Care

Before getting medical care that’s not COVID-related, determine where you need to go. If you’re facing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the ER. For things that aren’t an emergency, you might need to do a little research to decide whether to go to a clinic or urgent care.

Some clinics and hospitals have designated doctors or parts of the facility for different types of patients. Primary care doctors might only see healthy patients for routine checkups or for management of previously diagnosed chronic conditions. Anyone who is sick, even with non-COVID symptoms, might need to go to the urgent care area.

Some facilities might have separate waiting areas for people who are healthy and those who are sick. There might be certain times of day when doctors see patients who have symptoms of illness.

Check the facility website for their procedures for COVID. They often detail where you should go based on your medical needs and outline how they’re keeping patients safe.

Call Your Doctor

If you have a primary care physician, call the office when you have non-emergency medical needs. Your provider might have appointments set aside for people who need medical care outside of routine checkups. They can also direct you to the best option for care based on your needs.

Seeing your regular doctor when possible is ideal. Your physician has your records and can review your entire health history, which can help make informed decisions for new medical issues.

Consider Telemedicine for Non-Emergency Care

Many simple medical issues can be handled with virtual visits. More and more providers are encouraging patients to use virtual visits to minimize the number of people in the office.

Virtual doctor appointments can be useful if you have a recurring health issue or you’re fairly certain of what’s wrong. Maybe your child gets ear infections frequently so you know all the signs. Perhaps you have a chronic illness and a certain symptom comes back occasionally.

Seeing your doctor virtually can confirm your suspicions. Your doctor can prescribe you medication if necessary or recommend certain treatment options. 

Follow Established Guidelines

All medical facilities have strict guidelines on how they handle patients to minimize your risks. Read through those guidelines before your appointment to prepare yourself. Look for signage at the facility, read it carefully, and follow all directions to keep yourself and others safe.

You might undergo a temperature check at the door, and you’ll likely need to wear a face mask the entire time. Some facilities have specific doors you need to enter based on where you’re going.

Some facilities ask you to wait in your car until they call you. They will then take you directly to an exam room instead of having you sit in the waiting room. Or they might ask you to wait until 5 or 10 minutes before your appointment to come inside the building.

Once inside, look for markers on the floor to encourage social distancing. Some waiting rooms might have chairs blocked off for proper spacing. 

Follow any specific protocols, and go above and beyond to keep yourself safe. Watch your spacing between other patients. Keep your hands away from your face, and wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer.

Choose Convenient Options

Urgent care clinics like MedNow Urgent Care let you sign up for a time slot online. Urgent care facilities used to make you wait based on when you arrive. You could spend hours in a waiting room to see a doctor.

Being able to check in ahead of time limits how much time you spend in the waiting room. This might make you feel more comfortable getting the medical care you need. It also saves you time because you can wait to go to the facility until your appointment time.

Don’t Delay Emergency Care

When you’re facing a medical emergency, don’t delay, even if you’re worried about COVID. Emergency care is available from urgent care centers and hospitals, depending on the severity of the situation.

You likely have questions, such as can people get denied emergency care? Laws prevent hospitals from denying care in emergency situations if you’re dealing with a life-threatening condition or a serious injury.

Hospitals won’t turn you away for non-COVID issues if you’re having a medical emergency. However, they likely have protocols you need to follow. You might not be able to have anyone with you while you wait, for example.

Go to the ER or call 911 if you’re experience life-threatening symptoms or have a serious injury. That includes things such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, or other symptoms of heart attack, stroke, and similar conditions.

Deciding between the emergency room and urgent care often depends on the severity. Urgent care is best when you need immediate medical attention, but it’s not life-threatening. Examples include a minor injury, gastrointestinal viruses, or sinus infections.

Are you wondering, “Can I get an emergency prescription at urgent care?” or “Can I get an emergency refill at urgent care?” Urgent care doctors can diagnose conditions and prescribe medications just like your primary care doctor. If you need a refill of your regular medication or suspect you need a prescription for an illness, an urgent care doctor can often help.

Do urgent care visits get billed as emergency room visits? Your insurance can vary, but urgent care copays are usually lower than emergency room copays.

However, your medical needs should be the biggest factor in your decision, not the cost. Avoiding the proper level of care you need can put you at risk.

Get Non-COVID-Related Care

Getting care for reasons unrelated to COVID doesn’t have to be scary. Don’t skip out on medical care, whether routine or emergency. Staying consistent with care helps you avoid serious complications.

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