Types of care in California

Speaker 1:

We've all been there. You or someone in your family is sick or hurt. Then comes the moment when you realize you need medical care, or you're just not sure, but you'd rather be safe than sorry. Yep, you'd better get that checked out. But before you head out the door, think about where to go for care. As a smart health care consumer, choosing the right place to get care can help save you time and money. You want to get the right care at the right time and place so you can get healthy fast. You also want to make sure you're getting care at the right cost. Sound complicated? It's really not once you understand your options. Unless you have a true medical emergency, your first call should be to your doctor, your healthcare partner.

Speaker 1:

Your doctor has easy access to your records and understands your health history. Your doctor also coordinates all of your care and can choose treatments to help keep you healthy. But what if you can't see your doctor right away and need medical care quickly? In that case, you have other options, urgent care and emergency room care. Each option provides a different level of care, cost, and experience, things like convenience, and how long you have to wait for care. When your doctor is not available, urgent care centers are a good option and you don't need an appointment. You can just walk right in. It's a great place to go for minor cuts, burns, broken bones, muscle sprains, or strains. You can also get treatment for many common illnesses, like coughs, fever, flu, and skin rashes.

Speaker 1:

Your cost will probably be more than a visit to your doctor, but it will probably cost less than what you pay for the emergency room. And urgent care wait times are usually much shorter than at the ER. Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have a serious medical problem. These are problems that might cause death or disability if you don't get help right away, things like chest pain, shortness of breath, severe asthma attack, major burns, severe injuries, and kidney stones. The ER treats the sickest people first. So if you have a minor injury or illness, you may wait a long time to get help. Understanding your health care options helps get you the right care at the right time in the right place and at the right cost. So be smart, check out your options and how they compare, then choose the one that best fits your needs and preferences, and off you go to better care. To learn more about where to go for care, visit the Optum Care website at optumcare.com/wheretogo.