When to Go to the ER, Walk-in, or Use Virtual Urgent Care

Waking up with a sore throat or stuffy nose is never fun. Getting dressed to head to the doctor is even less fun. That’s why Bayhealth offers Bayhealth@Home, a virtual urgent care that allows you to get the care you need from the comfort of your home.

Bayhealth Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer Jonathan Kaufmann, DO, says Bayhealth@Home allows patients to connect with a board-certified physician in under 10 minutes. They can do so from work, home, or on the go rather than needing to drive to a walk-in center or an emergency department.

“Patients with non-life-threatening conditions can be seen safely and quickly at home rather than waiting in an ER. It saves them time and frees up those resources for others in our community,” he said.
Patients can download the Bayhealth@Home app on the App Store or get it on Google Play. The service is available at any time, day or night, and a virtual visit only costs $64.

If you or a loved one is experiencing something more serious, emergency care is the safest choice. Always call 911 immediately if there are signs of a life-threatening situation, such as a heart attack or stroke.
These lists can help you determine where to go for treatment, depending on your symptoms or condition.

Symptoms and Conditions Requiring Emergency Care

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Loss of consciousness (fainting)
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden, violent movement of arms, legs, or any other part of the body (seizure or convulsions)
• Abdominal pain
• Broken bone
• Injury to the head or neck
• Major burn

Symptoms and Conditions for Virtual Urgent Care or Walk-in Care

• Cough and other cold symptoms
• Sprain
• Bruise
• Sore throat
• Sinus infection
• Earache/ear infection
• Allergies
• Bite or sting
• Minor burn
• Cut and scrape
• Flu
• Pink eye
• Urinary tract infection
• Vomiting or diarrhea

Remember, when in doubt, always go to the emergency room and never put off seeking medical care. Conditions such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, dehydration/kidney failure, appendicitis, infections, and fractures will get worse without proper treatment.

Find Bayhealth’s urgent and emergency care facilities available around the clock near you, including our newest freestanding, hybrid emergency and urgent care center at Bayhealth Total Care, Milton. Visit Bayhealth.org/Virtual-Urgent-Care to learn more about our Bayhealth@Home option.