Ask a Lakes Urgent Care Doctor

Falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits each year, representing the leading cause of visits. If you have fallen, wait a moment and do a “self-assessment” rather than quickly getting up. Most bumps and bruises do not require medical attention. However, if pain from a fall persists beyond a few hours or you are unable to bear weight or move an upper extremity without pain, be sure to get evaluated by a physician. If the fall should cause a broken bone with skin disruption, get emergency care immediately. Most other sprains, strains or fractures can be safely treated by your primary care physician or at a certified urgent care. A certified urgent care can complete x-rays and initiate fracture care and casting, avoiding a visit to the emergency department.

We always suggest you check with your primary care physician to help navigate and obtain the most appropriate care for any health condition. Some primary care offices are comfortable taking care of minor fractures, some are not. A certified urgent care facility can competently take care of fractures, providing initial x-rays, diagnosis, and casting. At Lakes Urgent Care, we provide all of these services and also work closely with several orthopedic specialists to provide excellent continuity of care for more complex fractures.

The decision can sometimes be a little daunting, but a good rule of thumb is to trust your instincts. While cost and convenience are top of mind for many healthcare consumers these days, never compromise your health for these reasons alone. If you have had particular symptoms for several days or longer, chances are you could wait to see your primary care physician. Acute injuries, like sprains, strains, eye injuries, burns and cuts are best treated soon. If you are concerned about an acute infection and cannot be seen by your doctor within 24 hours, that would also be a great reason to be seen in a certified urgent care. If you are having a serious potentially life-threatening issue like chest pain, extreme difficulty breathing or any stroke-like symptoms, immediately call 911 or proceed to your closest ER. When your condition is urgent, but less serious, Lakes Urgent Care can save you time and money. Insurance co-pays can be much more expensive at a hospital ER. And you may wait for a long time in a hospital ER for minor health concerns. At Lakes Urgent Care, you’ll be seen quickly by a highly trained physician. And by visiting us, you’ll help keep the ER free to concentrate on more seriously ill patients.

All urgent cares are NOT created equal and in Michigan, urgent care centers are not regulated. Many facilities holding themselves out to the public as an urgent care do not actually qualify under the national guidelines of the Urgent Care Association of America (UCA). Always seek out an urgent care that is certified or accredited by the UCA. Lakes Urgent Care was one of the first certified urgent cares in southeastern Michigan accredited by the UCA. We hold ourselves to a higher standard because our patients deserve the best and most comprehensive care possible at a lower cost than visiting a hospital’s ER.

At Lakes Urgent Care, we provide a very wide array of treatments including on-site lab testing, digital radiology, EKG’s, pulmonary testing and treatments in addition to
IV therapies which most urgent cares do not provide. We like to call it “ER Lite”, where you are seen by physicians with training in emergency medicine who have access to many of the capabilities of the ER without the wait or cost. To learn more about all the great care we provide, visit our website, lakesurgentcare.com, where you will find comprehensive information and resources to help you. We also have a page on our website called “Urgent Care or ER” where you will find an easy to read graphic that we created in conjunction with the Greater Detroit Area Health Council. And stop by our office anytime and pick up a free “Urgent Care or ER” magnet graphic to display in your home, school or office.

We always suggest you check with your primary care physician to help navigate and obtain the most appropriate care for any health condition. Some primary care offices are comfortable taking care of minor fractures, some are not. A certified urgent care facility can competently take care of fractures, providing initial x-rays, diagnosis, and casting. At Lakes Urgent Care, we provide all of these services and also work closely with several orthopedic specialists to provide excellent continuity of care for more complex fractures.

Falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits each year, representing the leading cause of visits. If you have fallen, wait a moment and do a “self-assessment” rather than quickly getting up. Most bumps and bruises do not require medical attention. However, if pain from a fall persists beyond a few hours or you are unable to bear weight or move an upper extremity without pain, be sure to get evaluated by a physician. If the fall should cause a broken bone with skin disruption, get emergency care immediately. Most other sprains, strains or fractures can be safely treated by your primary care physician or at a certified urgent care. A certified urgent care can complete x-rays and initiate fracture care and casting, avoiding a visit to the emergency department.