HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Alabama Department of Public Health District Medical Officer Dr. Wes Stubblefield said, when you go to the Emergency Room you are triaged and put into a list of patients from the sickest to the least sick. "You will be seen in the order of sickness because there are people coming in with heart attacks and strokes and motor vehicle accidents that may be placed in front of you. What they need to know about the emergency room is that emergency room is for emergencies. If you go to the emergency room, you will be seen," he explained.
When it comes to non-emergencies, doctors recommend starting with either your primary care physician or urgent care. "If you feel like, you know, I don't feel well, but I can probably make it into the next day. And that's just something that you would have to say," he stated. Dr. Stubblefield also said there are certain things that people should be very concerned about. " So, for one, if you already have a medical condition when it comes to respiratory illnesses, if you have a medical condition where your lungs are affected, say you have COPD and you're already on oxygen. If you're having to turn up your oxygen to keep your oxygen levels up, then that's something you need to be seeing quickly for," he expressed.
Dr. Stubblefield believes when it comes to urgent cares or walk-in clinics, they are nice for less severe illnesses. "But they can't handle true emergencies," he said.
In the event you do feel sick, always call your regular doctor first to see if they have same day appointment availability. "If they don't and you don't feel like it's an emergency, you can go and be seen at one of the walk-in clinics or urgent care, depending on your insurance status. Then, of course emergency room for those true emergencies. Or, when there's no other option."