Depending on the circumstances, you need different types of healthcare. I am going to explain the differences between levels of care to help you tell the difference between an urgent care and emergency room, for example. I will list and color code them in order of healthiest to sickest care, otherwise known as acuity.
Medical clinic: gives medical care periodically to support your health. Example: doctor appointments, wellness visits, vaccines
Specialty clinic: Provides services that are ordered by your provider.
Example: medication infusions, dialysis, cancer treatment, etc.
Virtual care: Medical care that can be treated without a physical exam. These are usually a video call. They depend on your description of events to treat you. Go in person if they need to look or touch you to figure out the problem.
Urgent care: Medical care that can not wait, but not life threatening. Go here if you can not get a same day appointment with your primary doctor.
Example: Flu, ear infections, stomach aches
Emergency department: Medical care for life threatening conditions or care that can’t be given in the lower level facilities. They treat people according to how sick they are. They score a person with their complaint to tell their acuity level. If you are not sure how serious the problem is, go to the emergency department. Better to be safe, than sorry.
Example: A person with a broken bone will wait, while a person with a heart attack gets care immediately. This is because a heart attack is more life threatening than a broken bone.
Hospital: Medical care that can’t be managed without constant supervision. The patient will stay in the hospital until they are discharged safely to home or a lower level of care.
Long term acute care (LTAC): Long term ICU level of care. If a patient is needing a long time in a high level of care, but are stable, they will be moved to an LTAC.
Example: medically complex, ventilators, drains, wound care, IV treatment
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF): Also known as a nursing home, sniff for the acronym SNF, or long-term care. Gives care after a hospital discharge until it is safe to go home. Care provided includes physical therapy, IV therapy, wound care, and hygiene assistance.
Assisted living: This is not technically medical, but some give assistance with hygiene and medications. Otherwise, residents live in an apartment with help readily available as needed.
Home: The place where you are safest and feel most comfortable. Keep working with your health team.
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