When a loved one suddenly becomes
ill or is injured, you want to get care
right away. However, it pays to stop for a
second and ask yourself what type of care
is best. Some problems should send you
to the emergency room, but in many
cases, an Intermountain InstaCare®
or Intermountain KidsCare® facility
might be better. For less serious
illnesses and injuries, you can often
save a great deal of time and money
by choosing InstaCare.
This list can help you decide where to go.
Use your best judgment, and if you are
unsure, go to the emergency room.
URGENT CARE
Intermountain InstaCare clinics.
Intermountain InstaCare clinics offer a
professional staff of licensed doctors and
registered nurses who can treat urgent
conditions—those that are not life
threatening but require medical attention
within 24 hours. No appointment is
necessary. Most InstaCare facilities
are open seven days a week and offer
expanded hours.
Intermountain KidsCare.
KidsCare
facilities offer after-hours urgent pediatric
services for minor illnesses. Extended
weekday and weekend hours provide
convenient access to quality medical care.
Call ahead to schedule an appointment.
Examples of conditions treated at an
Intermountain KidsCare facility include
the following:
•
Minor burns or injuries
•
Broken bones needing X-rays
•
Sprains and strains
•
Earaches
•
Minor allergic reactions
•
Fever
•
Flu-like symptoms
•
Rash or other skin irritations
•
Mild asthma attacks
•
Animal and insect bites
•
Minor broken bones
•
Minor cuts and lacerations
CONSIDER MEDICAL
SELF-CARE
Many common health problems can
be treated at home. You can find self-
care resources at
selecthealth.org/
myhealth
. Log in and click on “Health
and Wellness,” then “Symptom Checker.”
You will get clear guidelines on when
and how to treat a problem at home with
specific instructions.
You can also call SelectHealth Member
Advocates® at
800-515-2220
. They can
help you schedule an appointment
with a specialist, find a doctor who
speaks a language other than English,
or determine the best location and
provider for urgent care when your
doctor is unavailable.
Find an Intermountain
InstaCare, KidsCare, or
hospital near you by visiting
selecthealth.org/facility
.
When to call
911
As many as 75 percent of all calls to 911 aren’t true emergencies. Sometimes it’s
hard to know if you should call. If you or someone close to you is hurt or sick,
answer these questions from the American College of Emergency Physicians:
•
Is the condition life or limb threatening?
•
Could the condition get worse on the way to the hospital?
•
If moved, will it hurt more?
•
If you answered yes to any of these questions, would an ambulance get to
the hospital sooner than you could?
If so, call 911 right away.
The
right care
when you need it
selecthealth.org
| spring 2014 | Total Fitness
smart choices
