Choosing a path to medical care for urgent health issues
When medical needs arise that can’t wait, choosing the right care venue can lead to better health outcomes. With options like primary care, 24/7 eVisits, urgent care, and the emergency department, choosing the best path to care is a matter of understanding the purposes and availability of the different care options.
Primary care
Patients with an available primary care doctor should contact their doctor first when non-emergency medical issues arise.
“Think of your primary care doctor as your personal health advisor who knows your health history, family history, risks for disease, current health conditions, medications, and health goals,” says Dr. Mark Carvalho, CEO of Montage Medical Group and President of MoGo Urgent Care. “Since they know you best, when you are ill or not feeling well, they can be your best venue for care.”
While Montage Medical Group has close to 100 primary care and specialist providers, Monterey County still faces a primary care doctor shortage that can cause lengthy waits for new patients.
“We are continuing to recruit more doctors to meet our community’s
need,” Carvalho says, “and we have a new patient waitlist to get them established as soon as a new doctor comes on board.”
For patients who do not have a primary care doctor, or if a patient’s primary care doctor is unavailable, options like Montage Health’s 24/7 eVisit or MoGo Urgent Care can provide quality treatment.
24/7 eVisit
Montage Health’s 24/7 eVisit can provide a diagnosis, treatment plan, and referral or prescription using a computer or mobile device. Patients complete an online questionnaire to determine whether the issue is appropriate for an eVisit, and within 10 minutes to 1 hour, they receive a response from a provider.
“Our 24/7 eVisit can be very convenient for a patient who is at home, may have challenges with transportation, or can’t miss time from work,” Carvalho says.
Symptoms that can be appropriate for the 24/7 eVisit include allergies, skin issues, urinary tract infections, respiratory symptoms, mild digestive issues like constipation and diarrhea, and mild muscle pain like low back pain.
Urgent care
For acute issues that require in-person care like stitches, x-rays, throat swabs, or urine tests, MoGo Urgent Care in Monterey, Carmel, and Marina provides quality care in a welcoming environment.
“Although we may not manage most chronic conditions,” Carvalho says, “we can evaluate any recent changes and help manage many minor and moderate illnesses that are not life-threatening.”
MoGo Urgent Care can provide care for needs like ear infections, physicals, mild to moderate respiratory illnesses, and minor cuts, burns, bruises, sprains, and strains.
Emergency care
“Most importantly, if you feel you are having a medical emergency and need immediate attention, don’t delay and proceed to your nearest emergency department or call 911,” Carvalho says.
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula’s Emergency department can provide care for symptoms like chest pain lasting more than 1–2 minutes, difficulty breathing, broken bones and large wounds or cuts, moderate and severe pain in the stomach, severe headaches, and new neurological symptoms like numbness, tinging, slurred speech, and fainting.
“Anything that is life-threatening should be seen in the emergency department,” Carvalho says. “For medical emergencies like a possible heart attack or stroke, delays in treatment can worsen the outcome, so call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away.”
“Think of your primary care doctor as your personal health advisor who knows your health history, family history, risks for disease, current health conditions, medications, and health goals.” — Dr. Mark Carvalho