If you’ve just been hurt or you’re not feeling well, you may be wondering if it’s better to head to the urgent care clinic for immediate help or schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor. Whether you’ve broken a bone, are having an allergic reaction, or you have a terrible headache, knowing where you should go when you need medical care helps take some stress out of the situation.
In Frederick and Clarksburg, Maryland, Dr. Praveen Bolarum and our team of nurse practitioners here at Primary Care Associates of Maryland are pleased to be your choice for both primary and urgent care services. Let’s take a closer look at how the two forms of care differ.
According to The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, primary care is typically offered by an internist, family physician, nurse practitioner, or pediatrician who oversees most of your health care needs. Think of your primary care provider as your medical partner who helps you optimize your health through prevention and wellness and take care of your acute and chronic needs with customized treatments.
At Primary Care Associates of Maryland, we offer a robust selection of primary care services, including:
Primary care is also the best choice for minor injuries and mild illnesses.
If you need medical attention other than the routine or preventive care that we offer with our primary care services, you may need urgent care.
If your problem is more pressing than an everyday need but isn’t life-threatening, then you are a candidate for urgent care. Here are some of the critical situations we can help you with:
Urgent care is ideal when you need to be seen by a doctor right away, but you can’t wait for an appointment, or you can’t wait very long. Most urgent care clinics see you on a walk-in basis so that you can get a quick assessment of your condition.
You should bypass urgent care and head straight to the hospital for serious conditions, such as chest pain, broken bones, difficulty breathing, sudden confusion, severe headache, or burns.
Whether your need is preventive, routine, or urgent, we can take care of you at Primary Care Associates of Maryland. Call to book an appointment at the location closest to you or book online.
