Accessing Care During a Respiratory Virus Surge
12/15/2022
As more and more
patients continue to seek Walk-In care amid a surge of Influenza, RSV, and
COVID, Aspirus Health offers important tips and considerations to help their
patients and communities navigate care options.
“With patient demand
exceptionally high, Aspirus providers, nurses, and clinic staff are truly going
above and beyond,” said Matt Brewer, Vice President of Operations – Primary
Care, Aspirus Health.
Aspirus offers
considerations to help their patients and communities save time, navigate care,
and potentially feel better more quickly.
Self-Care at home: When is it appropriate to stay home
and monitor and treat early symptoms? Self-care is appropriate in many
cases. If you have only just begun to experience symptoms – such as a runny
nose or a mild temperature – you wouldn’t need to seek treatment. Some of the
patients seeking care at Aspirus are not candidates for care, and it extends
wait times for those with more acute symptoms.
I think I have COVID: What’s next?
Aspirus has developed
an interactive COVID Symptom Checker tool in their MyAspirus
app to help patients determine their next steps when they experience COVID
symptoms, or were recently exposed. Check out myaspirus.org/MyChart/SymptomChecker.
Who should visit a walk-in clinic or urgent care
center in person? An in-person walk-in clinic visit is especially
appropriate for anyone who has a worsening cough or high fevers that won’t come
down with medication.
What other types of care are available? Aspirus
offers both on-demand video visits and e-visits for Wisconsin patients,
available on MyAspirus and performed by Aspirus providers. Many conditions and
symptoms are well-suited to telehealth, including pink eye, rashes, sinus
concerns, and recurring urinary tract infections.
What about calling your primary care provider’s
office? Patients should definitely contact their primary care office FIRST.
Pam Warnke, Nurse Practitioner at Aspirus Weston Clinic says, “It’s aways a
great idea to start with your primary care clinic. If your primary care doctor
can’t see you within the next two to three days sometimes there are other
providers in the clinic that can see you in a timely manner. Similarly, there
are nurse triage lines available through your primary care clinic to walk you
through the steps of where you should seek care given your symptoms.”
For non-respiratory
symptoms, your primary care provider’s office may be your best bet to secure a
specific appointment time and avoid a long wait.
- Call your clinic; if
your provider isn’t available, ask for the next available appointment with any
provider. You can also check appointment availability on MyAspirus.
- Keep in mind that your
primary care provider has a nurse line. Feel free to call the nurse line to
triage symptoms, seek advice on care, and help set up an appointment if
appropriate.
When should someone seek Emergency Care? Hospital
Emergency Departments (ED’s) are for serious acute life-threatening problems
and not the best choice for minor illness or injuries. ED’s get patients the
immediate care they need, that in some cases may be lifesaving.
Learn more: Aspirus has a web page dedicated to
care options. Visit aspirus.org/right-care.
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