For the Tomahawk Leader
WOODRUFF – Aspirus Health announced on Monday, May 9 that Howard Young Medical Center, 240 Maple St., Woodruff, is now offering Urgent Care services.
Urgent Care is available without an appointment, seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Emergency entrance.
“You can’t always plan when you need healthcare,” Aspirus stated. “Injuries and illness occur at the most inconvenient times when you are not able see your regular provider. With Urgent Care, you still have access quality care when and where you need it.”
“We always want to do what is best for our patients and be here when they need us,” said Heong P’ng, MD, an Aspirus Emergency Department Physician and Medical Director of Emergency Services at Howard Young Medical Center. “When you suddenly need care, it can be very distressing. The Urgent Care option provides people with the assurance they can receive the health care they need when they just can’t wait.”
Aspirus noted that it may be confusing whether to choose Urgent Care or an Emergency Department.
“Urgent Care is for problems that need to be treated right away, but are non-life-threatening,” Aspirus explained. “This includes conditions such as allergies, pink eye, rashes, upper respiratory infections, strains and sprains, ear infections, insect bites, cuts, or other minor illnesses. Urgent Care can also perform minor procedures, provide basic lab tests and imaging to help provide an accurate diagnosis and determine proper treatment.”
Aspirus said injuries that require rapid or advanced treatment should be treated at an Emergency Room in a hospital setting, where a higher level of care is available.
“When in doubt, do not hesitate to call 911, especially for suspected cases of stroke, heart attack or head trauma,” Aspirus stated.
The benefits of Urgent Care extend beyond expanded access, Aspirus said, noting that visitors to Urgent Care will typically have a shorter wait time than at an Emergency Room and will usually have a less expensive cost of visit with lower insurance co-pays.
“The addition of Urgent Care at Howard Young Medical Center shows a commitment by Aspirus to increase services and provide reliable care to our local community and the thousands of visitors that visit the Northwoods every year,” P’ng stated. “It is a valuable extension of the emergency care Howard Young Medical Center has been proudly providing in the Northwoods for over 45 years.”
For more information about Urgent Care at Howard Young Medical Center, visit www.aspirus.org/urgentcare.