Colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses are common this time of year, and it is not always clear where to go when symptoms begin. Aspirus Health is sharing guidance to help the community get timely care while keeping clinics and emergency departments running smoothly.
Kristi Wegener, MD, a family medicine physician with Aspirus Health, encourages patients to begin with their primary care provider for non-emergency concerns.
“Your primary care provider knows you best and can notice small changes in your health,” Dr. Wegener said. “When you see your primary care provider, you have a scheduled appointment time so you know exactly when you will be seen. If you cannot get in with your provider quickly, another provider at the same clinic or a walk-in clinic is a good next step.”
Aspirus also offers the Aspirus Nurse Contact Center, which is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week at no cost. Registered nurses can discuss symptoms and help determine the most appropriate level of care. Similarly, Aspirus offers a Symptom Checker in MyAspirus.
Walk-in clinics are designed for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, especially when a primary care appointment is not available. Common reasons for walk-in care include earaches, upper respiratory symptoms, minor injuries, and muscle strains.
The Aspirus Health physician explains that choosing the right care setting is especially important during the winter months, when demand for services increases.
“Walk-in clinics operate on a first-come, first-served basis,” Dr. Wegener said. “In the emergency department, patients are seen based on their level of acuity, meaning the most serious conditions are treated first. For people with non-life-threatening concerns, this can mean a longer wait in the emergency room.”
Dr. Wegener encourages anyone who is unsure where to go to start with the Aspirus Nurse Contact Center.
“We want patients to get the right care as quickly as possible,” she said. “If you have questions about where to go, the Aspirus Nurse Contact Center can help you decide.”
For more information on care options this winter, visit aspirus.org/right-care. The Aspirus Nurse Contact Center is staffed around the clock at 715-843-1236, where a registered nurse can provide guidance based on your needs.