It's not unusual for someone to have a medical issue that isn't necessarily an emergency, but which shouldn't wait until they can get an appointment with their family physician. A walk-in medical clinic is often something of a "happy medium" between these two options; this type of clinic will treat urgent matters that aren't necessarily life-threatening emergencies, but will typically get you treated much faster than a regular family doctor! Note a few issues that might warrant a trip to a walk-in clinic, and remember to always err on the side of caution and visit an emergency room if you're not sure of the urgency of any medical issue.
Cuts that may require stitches
A serious cut that results in excessive bleeding usually requires a call to emergency services so you can get proper treatment before you lose too much blood. However, if the cut isn't that serious and you've stopped the bleeding, you might visit a walk-in clinic to get proper wound care. A doctor or nurse can ensure the wound is cleaned properly and that you get stitches or a bandage as needed to protect the wound and reduce the risk of having it get infected. A doctor may even want to prescribe antibiotics to kill any germs or bacteria that may settle into the wound while it heals.
Potential sprains
If you've fallen and twisted an ankle or have twisted a wrist or knee in any way, and the pain does not subside and the joint begins to swell, you should probably visit a walk-in clinic. A sprain or any type of serious strain to a joint should be treated properly so that you don't damage the muscles, tendons, ligaments and other such areas of the joint. An x-ray can determine if a bone was broken, and a doctor or nurse may wrap the joint to protect it from overuse and overexertion so it can then heal properly.
Closed-head injuries
If you've fallen and hit your head or have suffered a closed-head injury of any sort, you don't want to avoid having this injury checked out by a medical professional. If you've suffered a concussion, meaning an injury to the soft tissue of the brain, you should be under observation and should also restrict your activities while the injury heals so you avoid the risk of internal bleeding. If you've fractured your skull, you might need to have it wrapped so that the fracture can heal properly. To ensure proper and speedy healing, always visit a clinic after such an injury, rather than assuming it will heal on its own.
When you think about arthritis, you automatically assume it is affecting a person in the older age bracket. Unfortunately, juveniles can also suffer from this issue. When I found out my child had juvenile arthritis, I was stunned. So, I have created this blog to talk about arthritis and how to make the person's life more bearable after diagnosis. Changes to diet and exercise are two small ways you can reduce the impact of arthritis, so I want to share the tips I have found that has changed my child's life for the better. Don't let an unusual condition get your child down; make changes so they can live a full and pain-free life.