A concise, evidence-based medical tool that saves you money

Urgent Care

Yes, I have worked at urgent care centers and admit it. Sometimes they come in handy, but there is a whole lot of wasted money at urgent care centers. I figure (very unscientifically, that is) that about 85% of all the people I treated in urgent care centers had no medical need to be there. This is one of the reasons I sought out to start this public service. You could be saving a lot of money here folks. Think about it.

Question:

If I think my child has constipation, should I get an xray of his/her abdomen?
Should I get an MRI for my back pain if I have been in pain for less than 6 weeks and don’t have red flag signs (neurologic weakness, inability to control bowel or bladder function, persistent fever with back pain, unintentional weight loss)?
If I have just had an injury, does taking non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, or Naproxen reduce pain as well or more than narcotic pain medication such as Vicodin or Percocet?
Do I have a higher chance of getting an inappropriately prescribed antibiotic in an urgent care than in a doctor’s office?
Do I need an antibiotic with more than ten days of sinus pressure, or sinus pressure that is worsening after 5-6 days?
Do I need an antibiotic with a less than seven day history of cough and chest tightness, and no fever?
If my child has both ears hurting, is under the age of 2, or has high fever (over 102F), or ear drainage, or an effusion, should I get them an antibiotic?
If my child is over the age of 2, has a one sided earache and no or a low grade fever (under 100F), and slightly irritable, should I get antibiotics to treat it?
If my child has a fever of 105 degrees or less and otherwise drinking well, and acting normally do I need to take them to the ER?
If I have just had an injury, does taking non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, or Naproxen reduce pain as well or more than narcotic pain medication such as Vicodin or Percocet?
Do I need an x-ray of my ankle if just after injuring it, I have pain when I press on the “ankle bone” (medial or lateral malleolus) and am unable to walk due to pain?
Should I get azithromycin (z-pack) if I am having an acute asthma attack?
Does hearing a “pop” when I twist my ankle automatically mean I need an X-ray?
Does my child need IV fluids for severe dehydration (unable to make saliva, tears, pale, cool skin, lethargic, sunken eyes, no urine output, unresponsive, very fast breathing)
Does my child need IV fluids for mild to moderate dehydration (able to make saliva, tears, urinating normally or only mildly decreased, acting normally or irritated, pink skin)?
Does my child need a head CT scan if they were just diagnosed with a mild to moderate head trauma (no vomiting more than once, no decreased alertness more than 2 hours after injury, no appearance of misshapened head, no loss of memory lasting more than 30 minutes after the trauma, fall onto head more than 3 feet, or pedestrian/auto accident)
Are most urgent care or ER visits necessary?
Do I need stitches for a cut that I can see fat, is over a joint, doesn’t stop bleeding after 15 minutes, or is greater than 3 inches?
Do I need stitches for a cut that is clean, shallow, and stops bleeding after I put pressure on it for 15 minutes?
Should my child get head CT or MRI after a concussion or mild trauma to the head, no loss of consciousness, no seizure, and no vomiting more than once?
Do I need an X-ray for my injured ankle if I can walk on it and don’t have pain on the inside ankle bone, the outside ankle bone, and where the foot connects with the ankle?
Do I need urgent care with diarrhea and vomiting that doesn’t revolve after 5 days, or if I have severe dizziness, and am unable to keep fluids down for more than 2 days?
Do I need urgent care or ER with a single episod of vomiting and/or diarrhea?
Do I need an antibiotic for UTI symptoms (burning with urinating, urgent need to urinate)?
Do I need an antibiotic with common cold symptoms (cough, runny nose)?
Do I need an antibiotic for sore throat without cough, positive fever, neck pain, and white spots on my tonsils?
Do I need antibiotics with 1-7 day history of cough and chest tightness?
Should all sinus infections be treated with antibiotics?
Do I have strep throat if I have a sore throat with a cough, no fever, no enlarged or tender neck lymph nodes, and no white discharge from my tonsils or throat?
Should I get a CT scan or MRI of my brain if I have headaches that aren’t causing neurological signs (for example weakness in the right hand, double vision, loss of vision, trouble speaking, sudden thunderclap onset, weakness in left foot, etc)?
Should I get my child between age 2-12 an antibiotic for a moderate ear infection that doesn’t results in high fever (over 102.0F) or severe, disabling pain?
Should I get an antibiotic if I have had moderate sinusitis symptoms (pressure in face and/or forehead) +/- fever for more than 7 days or initially got better, but then worse again?
Should I take an antibiotic if I have had moderate sinusitis symptoms (pressure in face) for less than 7 days?

 

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