Aspirus offers tips for seeking care during respiratory virus surge
As more and more patients continue to seek walk-in care amid a surge of influenza, RSV and COVID, Aspirus Health has offered important tips and considerations to help patients and communities navigate care options. These tips can help patients and communities save time, navigate care and potentially feel better more quickly.
Self-care at home: When is it appropriate to stay home and monitor and treat early symptoms? Self-care is appropriate in many cases. If you have only just begun to experience symptoms – such as a runny nose or a mild temperature – you wouldn’t need to seek treatment. Some of the patients seeking care at clinics are not candidates for care, and it extends wait times for those with more acute symptoms.
I think I have COVID: What’s next? Aspirus has developed an interactive COVID Symptom Checker tool in their MyAspirus app to help patients determine their next steps when they experience COVID symptoms or were recently exposed. Check out myaspirus.org/ MyChart/SymptomChecker.
Who should visit a walk-in clinic or urgent care center in person? An in-person walk-in clinic visit is especially appropriate for anyone who has a worsening cough or high fevers that won’t come down with medication.
What other types of care are available? Many healthcare systems offer both on-demand video visits and e-visits for patients. Many conditions and symptoms are well-suited to telehealth, including pink eye, rashes, sinus concerns, and recurring urinary tract infections.
What about calling your primary care provider’s office? Patients should definitely contact their primary care office first.
“It’s always a great idea to start with your primary care clinic. If your primary care doctor can’t see you within the next two to three days, sometimes there are other providers in the clinic that can see you in a timely manner. Similarly, there are nurse triage lines available through your primary care clinic to walk you through the steps of where you should seek care given your symptoms,” said Pam Warnke, nurse practitioner at Aspirus Weston Clinic.
For non-respiratory symptoms, your primary care provider’s office may be your best bet to secure a specific appointment time and avoid a long wait.
Call your clinic; if your provider isn’t available, ask for the next available appointment with any provider.
Keep in mind that your primary care provider has a nurse line. Feel free to call the nurse line to triage symptoms, seek advice on care, and help set up an appointment if appropriate.
When should someone seek emergency care? Hospital emergency departments (EDs) are for serious acute lifethreatening problems and not the best choice for minor illness or injuries. EDs get patients the immediate care they need, that in some cases may be lifesaving.
