From minor accidents to major illnesses, like heart attacks or stroke,
unexpected health emergencies can be stressful and overwhelming. The first
step in getting on the road to recovery is to decide whether to head to
the nearest Emergency Room (ER) or to be treated at a Walk-In Clinic or
physician’s office.
When your situation is serious, like the conditions listed below, call
9-1-1 or go to the nearest ER:
- Chest pain
- High blood sugar
- Intense headache
- Shortness of breath
- Foreign object stuck in body
- Open wounds/severed limbs
- Abdominal pain
- Unexplained, slurred speech
- High fever or fever with rash
- Broken bone
- Serious mental health issues
- Serious burns.
- Flu with complications*
- Skin infections/abscess
* Complications include breathing difficulties, high fever and unresponsiveness.
When your situation is not life-threatening, like the
conditions listed below, consider visiting a primary care,
family medicine or walk-in clinic:
- Sinus pain
- Cold
- Sprain
- Flu without complications*
- Skin rash without fever
- Urinary tract infections
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye).
Because an ER must treat critical and life-threatening cases ahead of non-emergency
conditions, you may find your wait times for non-emergency conditions
are shorter at a walk-in clinic or physician’s office. Don’t
waste precious moments if your situation is life-threatening or if you
are in doubt. Call 9-1-1 or go straight to the nearest ER.
North Oaks Walk-In Clinics Open in
Hammond,
Ponchatoula and
Walker
North Oaks Walk-In Clinics are open early on weekdays to treat most illnesses and minor injuries
without an appointment. Clinics are staffed with physicians who are qualified
to care for patients of all ages—from infants (ages 6 months and
older) to senior adults. On-site diagnostic X-ray and laboratory services
also are available.