Dementia and Your Loved One
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Dementia and Your Loved One

I've been a caretaker of an elderly woman with dementia for over two years. I've seen the effects of this mental affliction, and how devastating it can be to loved ones. This is why I am a firm believer in seeking a professional diagnosis, so the patient may receive necessary care and treatment. Once diagnosed at the onset of symptoms, a plan can be devised. Through social interaction and daily care, my charge has achieved a higher quality of life. If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, you can make a difference. Love will find a way.

Dementia and Your Loved One

When To Visit A Walk In Clinic For Your Medical Situation?

Vickie Armstrong

In the year 2014, there were approximately 800,000 emergency room visits in the United States alone. What this means is that if you are going to the emergency room anywhere in the country, you can basically guarantee lengthy waits and a busy experience. Walk in clinics and urgent care centers offer the same kind of service and typically have some benefits over emergency rooms.

Anybody who has a walk in clinic near them and wonders if they should visit the next time they find themselves with a pertinent health issue should read this guide, in order to learn some of the benefits of these clinics:

#1: The Clinics Are A Great Option At Inopportune Hours

There are some situations that warrant a doctor visit, but might not quite rise to the necessity of going to the emergency room. The problem is that most doctors offices close for the day in the late afternoon. Thankfully, walk in clinics are typically open at extended hours throughout the day, including holidays and weekends. Whether a person needs to get a quick diagnosis or a prescription, these clinics are available and able to provide. 

#2: The Wait Times Are Much Shorter

Emergency room visit wait times have increased throughout the years. According to the Center for Disease Control, in recent years, the typical emergency room wait time ballooned from a little more than 46 minutes to 58 minutes. Conversely, 57 percent of walk in clinic wait times are 15 minutes or less, while the vast majority take an hour or less. When a person wants to get in and get out, walk in clinics are typically a safe bet. 

#3: There Is No Need For An Appointment

Since people do not need appointments for walk in clinics, they can get standard doctor service during times that their primary care physician might not be available. They also offer many of the services that you would expect from a doctor's office, including x-rays, sutures, bandages, IVs and more. By getting in at a quick time, with no need for an appointment, gives you excellence in terms of your care, without having to place phone calls or schedule in advance. 

With these benefits in mind, weigh the situation you are facing, to figure out if a walk in clinic would best. However, if a situation appears to be life threatening or dangerous to long-term health, always go to the emergency room first. But for people who need care after hours for something less severe, these benefits speak for themselves.

To learn more, contact a company like West Ocean City Injury & Illness Center with any questions you have.


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