subject: Using A Walk In Clinic While You Are Traveling [print this page] Traveling can be a lot of fun, but not when you are sick or injured. A walk in clinic will be your friend if you end up sick away from home. These clinics are not for every problem, but they are definitely helpful for the less serious issues that might need an antibiotic, stitches, or x-rays.
If you are traveling and need a walk in clinic, you would be wise to stop for lunch someplace that has wireless and do a search, or use your smart phone if you have one. When you look online, check out the various websites for clinics in the area paying close attention to whether they have actual doctors on staff and what services they administer. Also take note of their financial policies, so that you will know whether you will need to pay at the time of the visit or if you can be billed.
If you are planning on traveling but have not yet left, you would be wise to do some research in advance to find a walk in clinic in each of the areas where you will be on your trip just in case you run into a problem. If you have kids with you it is especially important to be aware of what is available to you in the area.
If you do end up going into a walk in clinic, it is important that it is a sanitary, clean place to go.
Sometimes going to the doctor can be the worst place to go because you might come home with more germs than you left with. You can take precautions at the offices so you do not catch anything new. Some key things to think about are door handles, the arms of chairs in the waiting area, and pens at the front desk. These areas are not routinely sanitized, except possibly at the end of the day. If you touch any of these areas, you would be wise to use sanitizer. Having a pen in your purse is a good idea, so that you do not have to even touch the one that they have for everyone to use.
Some problems are worthy of the emergency room, but you should be able to recognize some of the more urgent issues. Chest pain or an inability to breathe is worthy of calling 911. Start with a walk in clinic while you are traveling, and they will tell you if you need to go to an emergency room.
Before leaving on a long trip, plan ahead. You never know when you might need help for a semi-emergency.
by: Andrea Avery
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