When your senior loved one develops an urgent medical need, it can be hard to determine where to seek the best treatment. The goal is to avoid bouncing from provider to provider which increases the likelihood of mistakes, delays in treatment and billing issues. Typically, there are three options for urgent medical care – the emergency room, the patient’s primary care physician or urgent care centers and minute clinics.
The first step is to determine the severity of the medical problem. If any of the following symptoms are present, then a 911 call followed by a trip to the emergency room may be warranted:
- Shortness of breath/trouble breathing
- Chest or abdominal pain
- A fall resulting in pain
- Muscle weakness on one side of the body
The next level of severity would be symptoms that need treatment within a 24-hour period, but not necessarily immediately as those listed above. Treatment can be sought at urgent care clinics or minute clinics for the following types of issues:
- Cuts requiring stitches
- Low-grade fevers
- Ear or eye infections
- Viral infections like colds, flu, even Covid-19 (if no breathing or serious issues)
- Sprains
These types of clinics are becoming increasingly popular among the elderly population. The advantages include shorter wait times, convenient hours and locations, and the ability to quickly provide many diagnostic tests onsite. When visiting one of these clinics, the caregiver should bring along the Emergency Medical Packet for the senior. An Emergency Medical Packet includes a list of medications, contact information for all providers and insurance information. Obtain a copy of the services rendered and provide that to the senior’s primary care physician.
On the mildest level of severity for medical issues, an appointment can be made to visit a senior’s primary care physician. These doctors typically build a relationship with their patients, maintain better records and have access to more medical history information. Unfortunately, these providers often have limited office hours and appointments may take weeks to secure. There are many situations where a minute clinic may be the best short-term solution, with a follow-up with primary care. Inquire with your loved one’s primary care office to determine if they have same-day appointments set aside. Some have nurse practitioners or physician’s assistants available for same-day service. This option may be better to keep all records in one place.
At Stouffer Legal, we care about our seniors and encourage caregivers to gain as much information as possible to provide the best on-going medical, financial and legal care. For more information on our elder law services, contact our compassionate attorneys in the Greater Baltimore area. You can schedule an appointment by calling us at (443) 470-3599 or emailing us at office@stoufferlegal.com.
