Should I stay or should I go now?
From eVisits and same-day Virtual Visits with a Provider – to local urgent care centers – many fast, convenient, cost-effective options abound in Brevard County to help get you well sooner.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – It’s about that time of year. As Americans begin a busy winter and holiday travel season, and thousands of visitors and temporary snowbird residents flock to the Space Coast, cold, flu and COVID-19 symptoms will begin cropping up like sunburns on the beach and mouse ears at the … well … that magical place just to the west of Brevard County.
And as the sniffles, coughs, headaches, sore throats and aches take hold, you may be tempted to ask yourself – to steal a quote from a hit 80s song – “Should I stay or should I go now?”
But is going to your nearest hospital emergency room the right call?
In most cases, especially here in Brevard County, there are a wealth of services – from Virtual Visits to urgent care facilities – that are faster, more convenient and will have you on the road to recovery without long wait times in an emergency room where more serious injuries and medical emergencies take priority.
Andrew Thomas, a local college student at Eastern Florida State College, recently returned to Brevard County after a weekend visit with friends and family in Atlanta. After a roundtrip plane ride, airport escalators, a couple of train rides and an NFL game among 70,000 people, he knew the sore throat, sniffles and sneezes snuck a ride home with him.
“I haven’t really been sick in a long time, so when this happened my first thought was, ‘Maybe I should drive down to Viera Hospital and get it checked out since the hospital is always open.’ Nowadays, you don’t know if it’s a cold, the flu or something more serious like COVID-19 that I don’t want anyone else to catch. But I also had final exams and a part-time job, so I wanted to get checked out quickly,” said Thomas. “My parents said the fastest and easiest option was to run down to a local Centra Care location. I found out it was just a cold virus and was in and out in less than an hour and didn’t have to wait in a busy hospital.”
Carol-Ann Black is a Health First Health Plans customer care associate and says that she frequently interacts with Health Plan customers seeking in-network options for non-emergent situations, and her top recommendation is Health First AdventHealth Centra Care.
“We still have customers that, for whatever reason, immediately think that they need to go to a hospital to be seen or need to find and then schedule an appointment with a Provider – which could take days. Maybe Covid instilled that in folks some, but I just put myself in the same situation. Would I want to spend the time sitting in a busy ER waiting room around people who may have more complex issues – or something I’d rather not also contract?” asked Black. “The local Centra Care offices are super quick, convenient, cost effective, and you can even make an appointment, which makes it even more convenient. Plus, insurance covers most visits.”
Care Finder
Health First’s Care Finder is actually the first stop at HF.org, informing patients quickly about their care options, including eVisits and Same Day Virtual Visits. Virtual Visits are face-to-face appointments with a Provider over a secure video connection. It is important to note that some symptoms, such as lumps below the skin or chest pain, call for an in-person appointment in a healthcare facility.
“We know that the first question people ask is, ‘Am I that sick?’ and ‘Do I really need to see a doctor,’” said Dr. Jayde George, Medical Director of Virtual Health for Health First Medical Group. “More often than not, the answer is, ‘Yes, you should get a diagnosis.’ Care Finder is a great place to start for the patient who doesn’t know where to begin.”
Face-to-Face: Same Day Virtual Visits
Health First offers the ease and convenience of Same Day Virtual Visits with a Health First Provider. Same Day Virtual Visits provides patients with face-to-face access to a Primary Care Provider Monday through Saturday – care in the comfort of your home. From strep throat and the flu to minor injuries, Health First Providers are available to address unexpected medical needs.
“You would be surprised at how much we can evaluate through our virtual visits. Why make the trek to the doctor’s office when you are feeling under the weather when we can evaluate you while you rest at home,” said Dr. George. “And the great thing about doing a virtual appointment with us locally, unlike some of the other national virtual clinics, is that we have the ability to order additional testing or see you in person if we need to. If we are doing a virtual appointment, and I feel like you should have a flu, COVID-19 or RSV swab, or a chest X-ray, or I really just need to listen to your breathing, I can say, ‘Hey, run to the lab for your swab, get your chest X-ray done while you are there, and meet me at the office at 2 p.m.’”
Easy eVisit:
Another increasingly popular option is the eVisit, which requires only a flat self-pay fee of $30. The patient completes a comprehensive questionnaire which a Provider then uses to determine a diagnosis and make a treatment plan that is emailed to the patient. Once online, anyone can type in their symptoms and get suggestions on the recommended ways to get appropriate care – fast and conveniently.
eVisit is a secure, online, text-based interview that is available with extended hours and without an appointment. Just fill out the online questionnaire, and a Provider will respond with a diagnosis and fill a prescription if one is called for.
Should I stay or should I go? Tips for when to visit an ER:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people experiencing flu, cold or other mild illness who do not need emergent medical care or antiviral drugs are best advised to stay home and avoid contact with other people, limiting spread.
However, those who have symptoms of flu and are in a higher-risk group, or are very sick or worried about the illness, should first contact a healthcare provider. The CDC provides a full list of people at increased risk for flu-related complications here.
If you have emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at higher risk of flu complications or you are concerned about your illness, call your healthcare provider for advice.
Some common warning signs include:
Children:
■ Fast breathing or trouble breathing
■ Bluish lips or face
■ Ribs pulling in with each breath
■ Chest pain
■ Severe muscle pain (child refuses to walk)
■ Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, or no tears when crying)
■ Not alert or interacting when awake
■ Seizures
■ Fever above 104°F
■ In children less than 12 weeks, any fever
■ Fever or cough that improves but then returns or worsens
■ Worsening of chronic medical conditions
Adults:
■ Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
■ Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
■ Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to rouse
■ Seizures
■ Not urinating
■ Severe muscle pain
■ Severe weakness or unsteadiness
■ Fever or cough that improve but then returns or worsens
■ Worsening of chronic medical conditions
CARE FROM YOUR COUCH?
As the cold and flu season ramps up, Health First offers many popular and convenient options for diagnosis and treatment without visiting an Emergency Room.
Care Finder: Your FIRST stop at HF.org! From e-Visits to urgent care, share details of your symptoms and discover available options all at your fingertips.
eVisit: During an eVisit, which requires only a flat self-pay fee of $30, you complete a comprehensive questionnaire which a Provider then uses to determine a diagnosis and write a treatment plan that is emailed to the patient. Once online, anyone can type in their symptoms and get suggestions on the recommended ways to get appropriate care – fast and conveniently.
Same Day Virtual Visits: Same Day Virtual Visits provides you with face-to-face access to a Primary Care Provider Monday through Saturday – it’s care from the comfort of your home. From strep throat and the flu to minor injuries, Health First Providers are available to address unexpected medical needs.
Health First AdventHealth Centra Care Locations: Five convenient physical locations throughout Brevard County open 7 days a week – offering walk-in or appointment scheduling.
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