Your best options for care
With our hospitals operating at full capacity, and a health care worker shortage, we can all do our part to ease the burden on the emergency department.
Is it an emergency?
See the bottom of this chart for the symptoms that require an immediate trip to the Emergency Department (ED). Otherwise, do these first:
| Not urgent | Send your doctor a message in MyChart. |
| Urgent, during open hours | Call your clinic and ask to speak to the nurse.
They can review your symptoms and recommend a home care plan for you. They can also reach out to your PCP if your symptoms are more concerning. You might also try the Nurse Triage Line on the back of some insurance cards |
| Urgent, after hours | If you experience an urgent health concern after hours that cannot wait until the next business day, your insurance may provide a Nurse Advice Line for next steps [see the back of your health insurance card].
If you do not have the Nurse Advice Line and you have an urgent health concern after hours that cannot wait until the next business day, call 1.888.472.2633 then choose the clinic where you receive care to be connected to the after-hours phone line. |
| More urgent, after hours | On evenings, holidays or Sundays—or if our on-call provider recommends:
|
Go directly to the closest ED if you are experiencing:
— if or you are unsure of the seriousness of your condition. |
Our health care system works best when you seek the right care for your symptoms. It can also save you money, too.
Primary care physicians (PCPs) are the physicians that you should see regularly and include pediatricians, internal medicine, and family medicine physicians, ARNPs, and PAs. PCPs can diagnose and treat most common medical conditions whether acute or chronic. They learn the most about you, your preferences, and your needs. If you require a specialist, they will get you to the right one. PacMed PCP and specialists work closely together to provide you with the right care at the right time.
At PacMed, if you have more urgent concerns during our open hours, you can call us. Each clinic has a team of nurses and/or medical assistants who help with triaging patient needs. If needed, we can make time to see you that day either in person or a video visit. Find your clinic phone number.
Even when traveling, you can use MyChart, call your PCP’s office during the day or call us after hours to determine if you need to visit an urgent care. They may be able to handle your issue over the phone—or let you know if you can wait until you are back from your travels.
You must go to an emergency room for life-saving care that needs immediate attention. Visit an emergency room if you are experiencing chest pain, paralysis, speech changes. vision loss, seizure, severe trauma, poisoning, and severe allergic reaction. For most cases, patients should consult their PCP.
When in doubt, seek the highest level of care possible. If you are unsure of the seriousness of your condition, do not delay, go to the ED.
If you know it is not an emergency and you have time to schedule an appointment, call your PCP and get seen at your home clinic.
Thank you for helping us meet your needs, and the needs of all patients, by simply seeking the right care.
* Providence may accept different insurance options than PacMed. Check they accept your insurance plan before using this option, to avoid surprise charges.
** Express Cares and Urgent Cares will also have their own insurance options and billing policies. Check with them in advance to avoid surprise charges.