If you need to go to the emergency room, go.
If you need to go to urgent care, go.
Don’t be timid about seeking health care at any time.
Especially not now, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That’s what’s so puzzling to our doctors. People aren’t coming in to get immediate treatment for health problems as they usually do.
“We’re available and prepared to see patients for all the things we used to see them for before COVID-19,” says Dr. Ryan Murphy, an emergency medicine and urgent care physician with BayCare Clinic. “Scrapes and bruises, sprains and strains, earache, toothache, non-emergent injuries and certainly for emergent health issues – we’re here for you.”
Even though Wisconsin is under a Safer at Home order through May 26, you can’t ignore health problems because you’re skittish about the coronavirus.
Here’s an example. Someone who has symptoms of a stroke – face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech or difficulty speaking – needs to get to an emergency room ASAP. The longer you wait to be treated for stroke, the greater the risk for complications or death.
Likewise, someone who has symptoms of a heart attack – chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, a cold sweat or sudden nausea, lightheadedness or fatigue– needs to get medical attention ASAP.
Head injuries? Go. Broken bones? Go. Burns? Go. High fevers? Go. Accidental overdoses? Go.
Emergency rooms and urgent care clinics are perhaps the safest places to go with health problems. They’ve put countless measures in place to make sure the COVID-19 virus doesn’t spread.
You are more than welcome at emergency rooms and urgent care.