Urgent Care

If you experience an acute illness or injury and need immediate treatment, you may need urgent care. At Elevate Wellness Center in Forest City, North Carolina, Meredith Greene, MSN, FNP-C, ENP-C, and the team offer same-day urgent care services to people of all ages, including diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, stitches, laceration repair, and sports injury treatment. To make an appointment, call the office or use the online booking feature today. Telemedicine appointments are also available. 

What is urgent care?

Urgent care provides same-day treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses. If you cut yourself while cooking and it won’t stop bleeding, or you twist an ankle at work and it doesn’t get better with treatments like ice and rest, visit Elevate Wellness Center. The sooner you receive treatment, the sooner you can feel better while reducing the risk of more serious issues.

What conditions can benefit from urgent care?

Elevate Wellness Center treats various conditions, including:

• Accidents and falls
• Cuts and lacerations
• Breathing difficulties (like asthma)
• Eye irritation
• Sprains and strains
• Urinary tract infections
• Bug bites
• Minor burns
• Sore throat
• Fever
  

You might also benefit from urgent care if you develop gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Should I visit urgent care instead of the ER?

If you or a loved one experiences a non-life-threatening illness or injury, you can save time and money by visiting urgent care instead of the emergency room. That’s because ERs see people based on their level of need. So, if you have a cut, but someone else comes in experiencing a heart attack, you might have to wait hours to be seen.

What’s more, urgent care facilities, like Elevate Wellness Center, accept most types of health insurance. That prevents you from having to pay exorbitant out-of-pocket costs.

What happens during an urgent care visit?

At Elevate Wellness Center, an urgent care visit begins with a discussion of your symptoms, including when they started, if they respond to at-home treatment, and if any activities make them worse.

Next, your provider conducts a physical exam. Depending on the reason for your visit, they might also order lab or diagnostic imaging.

After pinpointing the source of your symptoms, your provider develops a custom treatment plan. That might include prescription medication, getting plenty of rest, or a referral to a medical specialist.

Is there any way to prevent the need for urgent care?

There’s no way to prevent the need for urgent care entirely, but you can significantly reduce your risk by living a healthy lifestyle. The team at Elevate Wellness Center recommends eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of sleep. It’s also important to manage your stress levels and visit your primary care physician at least once a year for a physical exam.

If you or a loved one requires urgent care, call the office or click the online booking feature today to make an appointment at Elevate Wellness Center. Telemedicine appointments are available.