Certain times of the year, healthcare facilities are busier than normal. When that happens, it’s best to know where to go for care, so you can get into the doctor and get back to feeling like yourself. Here are four insider tips to get a quick doctor’s visit.
1. Start with Your Primary Care Doctor
It’s always best to start calling your primary care provider (PCP), since they know you best.
If your provider doesn’t have an opening the day you need to get in, try visiting with another provider at the same clinic. In many clinics, advanced practitioners may even be available same day to address your needs.
2. Use MyUnityPoint to Schedule Online
The patient portal, called MyUnityPoint, has lots of useful tools. It can help you get into the doctor faster by allowing you to schedule an appointment with your provider without picking up the phone. You can log on the website or app and find a provider you’ve seen before to schedule an appointment. Need to reschedule an appointment for an important meeting? No big deal! You can hop on the portal and change your appointment to another available time.
3. Check Out Urgent Care Online Tools
When your primary doctor isn’t an option, or you have immediate needs, seek out urgent care. When selecting a location, make sure to check out the wait times at nearby UnityPoint Clinic Express Care. You can reserve your spot online where you can select a window of time to see a provider and get text reminders of your reservation.
4. Go with Virtual Care
Your doctor is booked, and urgent care wait lines are long — what’s next? Have common conditions like UTI, pink eye, sinus infection, fever, or flu treated by UnityPoint Health Virtual Care. Plus, if you use Virtual Care during the daytime hours, you may get paired up with a UnityPoint Health advanced practitioner. The provider you work with will find a pharmacy near you if any medications are required.
You can use this telehealth option at one o’clock in the morning if you develop an itchy poison ivy rash and then stop at the pharmacy in the morning to get treatment started right away. It’s a very convenient option to consider.
When It’s an Emergency
Remember, in a true emergency, like chest pain, stroke symptoms, or serious illness or injury, call 911 or head to the emergency department immediately. The emergency department is a place that should be reserved for life-threatening injuries and illness.
Overall, if you’re still not sure what to do, call your primary care doctor first. If you don’t have one – our team is available at 563-262-6294 to schedule your appointment now.
