When you need medical care for an injury or health problem, there are a variety of family medicine providers and health centers you can visit. It is important to select the right one for your specific situation. One of the most common and popular health facilities you can visit is a walk-in clinic.
A walk-in clinic allows patients to conveniently see a primary care provider without the need for an appointment. This is particularly beneficial if someone has an urgent health care need that’s not an emergency or if they have a hectic schedule that makes scheduling appointments in advance difficult.
Before you visit, you should understand what a walk-in clinic’s scope of practice is. So, let’s discuss some of the many issues the family medicine providers at walk-in clinics treat.
Respiratory Infections
Walk-in clinic providers routinely treat respiratory infections. They will give you a checkup, assess your symptoms, listen to your breathing, and maybe even conduct an X-ray. Based on what they find, you will get a diagnosis for a respiratory infection as well as a treatment plan.
Clinic providers can prescribe medications, including antibiotics. Many clinics even send prescriptions directly to your choice of pharmacy, so all you have to do after leaving is pick up your medications at your selected facility.
Earaches
One of the most common issues family medicine providers at walk-in clinics diagnose and treat are earaches. You can have an earache for many reasons, including an infection, sinus pressure, an injury, and more. Earaches are particularly common among children. When earaches are accompanied by fever and hearing loss, they become particularly worrisome.
A walk-in clinic has the necessary tools, such as an otoscope, to diagnose such problems. You can also receive the necessary treatment, such as antibiotics. If the problem is extensive or the underlying cause requires a specialists’ diagnosis and treatment, you will be advised as such.
Vomiting or Persistent Diarrhea
Vomiting or diarrhea that is continuous for more than one day is a common reason to visit a walk-in clinic. Vomiting and diarrhea may be signs of gastroenteritis – the medical term for a viral infection in the digestive tract. These symptoms could also indicate you have food poisoning. Regardless of the cause, having prolonged symptoms can be detrimental to your health, because you can become dehydrated and malnourished within days. That’s why it is important to seek medical care if your symptoms last longer than a day.
Sports Injuries
One of the most common reasons why patients visit walk-in clinics is sports injuries. It is important to seek medical care for injuries immediately after they occur, because prolonging treatment can make recovery longer and more complicated – not to mention you will have to endure uncomfortable symptoms for a longer period of time. Walk-in clinics can immediately perform X-rays and other imaging tests to get to the root cause of your injury. Athletic injuries include soft tissue damage that occurs when you overuse, overwork, or overstretch a muscle, ligament, or tendon. It also includes fractures. With these conditions, you may have pain, swelling, bruising, or a decrease in flexion or function. You may also notice you can’t bear weight or use a particular body part like you normally could.
Walk-in clinics have equipment to assess your injury, give an accurate diagnosis, and recommend treatment. If your injury is severe, you may be instructed to go to an orthopedic family medicine provider or the emergency room. However, for most mild to moderate injuries, a walk-in clinic is fully equipped to provide treatment.
Cuts and Wounds
You can also visit a walk-in clinic to get cuts and wounds dressed. Such injuries can occur while performing chores, playing sports, or doing hobbies. They can also occur at work or during car accidents. Walk-in clinics can clean and dress up wounds, as well as provide stitches.
Walk-in Clinic in Royal Palm and Wellington, Florida
Advanced Medical Clinic is a walk-in practice that offers a variety of treatments for a plethora of health issues and injuries. If you are looking for a family medicine provider you can visit whenever you need care, we are happy to help.
For more information, call Advanced Medical Clinic at (561) 434-1935 for an appointment or just walk in! For non-pressing issues, you may use our online appointment booking tool.
