When to Visit a Walk-in Clinic

Mar 27, 2019 12:59:52 PM / by Voyage Healthcare Team posted in Family Medicine, Health Tips

Most people know that when an illness or injury is severe or life-threatening you should go to an emergency room. But what about those times when you’re unsure? A walk-in clinic might be the right answer.

Read on to find out when it’s best to go to Voyage Healthcare’s walk-in clinic or an emergency room.

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Voyage Healthcare's Walk-in Clinic vs. Emergency Room

Walk-in clinics and emergency rooms are two very different places. Determining which option is best for you depends on what symptoms you’re experiencing and how severe they are.

Below, we break down common conditions you might experience and whether to visit Voyage Healthcare's walk-in clinic or an emergency room.

Voyage Healthcare's walk-in clinics

If you have a non-life threatening injury or illness, Voyage Healthcare's walk-in clinics can provide the treatment you need to get better.

The following are some common conditions that can be treated by a provider at a walk-in clinic.

Voyage Healthcare's walk-in clinic symptoms, conditions, and injuries:

  • Fever
  • Ear pain
  • Pink eye symptoms
  • Sore throat
  • Sinus infections
  • Flu symptoms
  • Cold symptoms
  • Bug bites or stings
  • Vomiting
  • Sprains
  • Shallow cuts
  • Minor injuries (cuts, blisters, wounds)
  • Skin conditions (rashes, sunburns, athlete's foot, lice)
  • Non-life-threatening allergic reactions
  • Vaccinations

Pros of Voyage Healthcare's walk-in clinics

  • No appointment needed
  • Retail hours (Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5 pm)
  • Less expensive than visiting ER
  • Providers have access to your medical history
  • Consistent and appropriate care for your acute illness or injury
  • Accept most insurance carriers
  • Multiple Twin Cities locations
  • You might be able to see your primary care provider at Voyage Healthcare

For non-acute illnesses and injuries, Voyage Healthcare also offers a wide range of services available by making an appointment.

Emergency rooms

Usually located within a hospital, emergency rooms care for people suffering from life-threatening symptoms of severe illnesses or injuries.

The following are some common conditions that can be treated by providers at an emergency room.

ER symptoms, conditions, and injuries:

  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Head injuries
  • Eye injuries
  • Cuts requiring stitches
  • Severe headache
  • Abdominal pain
  • Loss of vision
  • Loss of balance
  • Uncontrollable bleeding
  • Broken or dislocated bones
  • Numbness in extremities
  • Severe pain in extremities
  • Seizures
  • Severe vomiting or diarrhea
  • Suicidal thoughts or altered mental state

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, please seek immediate emergency medical assistance.

Pros of emergency rooms:

  • Depending on the severity of your condition, you can be seen quickly
  • Generally open 24 hours per day, seven days per week

Cons of emergency rooms:

  • Providers will have limited access to your medical records as you most likely don’t have a medical history established at an emergency room
  • Can be much more expensive than a walk-in clinic

What to bring with you to Voyage Healthcare's walk-in clinic or ER

When visiting a medical facility, make sure you have the following items with you:

  • Most recent health insurance card
  • State issued ID or driver’s license
  • List of medications you’re currently taking
  • List of known allergies
  • Emergency contact information

Walk-in at Voyage Healthcare

Knowing where to go for acute treatment can help save your life. When you’re feeling sick or have a non-life-threatening injury, consider Voyage Healthcare's walk-in clinic before heading to an emergency room. However, if you’re experiencing severe or life-threatening symptoms of any kind, it’s important you go to an emergency room right away.

At Voyage Healthcare, we offer three locations for walk-ins: Osseo, Plymouth, and Maple Grove. Stop by Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5 pm, and you’ll be on your way to feeling better in no time!

Not sure what questions to ask your provider? We’ve compiled a list of all the questions you could ever ask in our guide: Cut the Confusion: Questions to Ask Your Doctor at Every Age and Stage of Life.

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Voyage Healthcare Team

Written by Voyage Healthcare Team

Voyage Healthcare is an independently owned, multi-specialty healthcare clinic — guided by the doctors who care for families in the northwest metro area of Minneapolis/St. Paul.

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