The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer 

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

WHENEVER there is an emergency, swift medical care is paramount. However, there may be an instance where you may be experiencing an injury or illness that is not a life-threatening emergency, but still requires urgent care. 

Knowing the difference between urgent care and an emergency, as well as the options available locally if either scenario arises, could mean the difference between life and death. 

During the Doctors Hospital Distinguished Monthly Lecture Series, Nicolette Chalke, a registered nurse at the Bahamas Medical Centre, discussed some of the main illnesses/afflictions people tend to have and when they need to seek medical attention at an urgent care centre like the BMC on Blake Road.

A medical emergency is an illness or injury that needs immediate attention or care. It is an immediate threat to life or limb and requires immediate treatment for it. Such things as chest pains, heart attacks, strokes, car accidents or any incident where a person is experiencing a significant blood loss or has serious internal damage is considered an emergency. 

“An emergency is also something that you would consider an emergency for you. So what would be an emergency for me may not be an emergency for you,” she said.

“The difference between urgent care and an emergency is that urgent care can wait 12 hours while an emergency is immediate. If you need medical assistance and you do not think you can wait two to three days then it is best for you to visit an urgent care centre, as the wait sometimes in an emergency room can be very long,” Nurse Chalke said. 

Urgent care centres have the ability to manage all emergencies; they must be open seven days a week and offer diagnostic testing, Nurse Chalke said. 

“You should seek urgent care when you cannot wait on a physician, as sometimes physicians are on vacation, or their offices may be closed and you would need to see someone sooner than they later. Not only are we here for urgent injuries or illnesses but if you wake up in the morning and you have a terrible cough and a fever and do not have time to make an appointment you can come in,” she said. 

Some of the common illnesses that nurses and doctors see at the BMC’s urgent care centres include asthma attacks, common cold, shortness of breath and allergic reactions. 

“Asthma attacks are very common. As an asthmatic you have home medications that you can take. But if you are not responding to the medication that is a really good time to come in or go to an urgent care centre, especially if it is progressively getting worse,” she said.

Since frequent coughs are an indicator of an asthma attack and it interferes with a person throughout the day.

“What we can do for you if you are having an asthma attack is give oxygen. We have the ability to give 100 per cent oxygen to the blood. We can also monitor your respiration and oxygenation status. We have machines where we can monitor how much of the oxygen is getting into your blood,” Nurse Chalke said. 

“If you have a chest cold and you are coughing up a lot of junk then that is good time for you to come in. Often times if you have been exposed to chemicals that can cause your medication not to work the way it should. So if that has occurred and your medication stopped working that is a good time to visit an urgent care centre.”

As for people who have allergic reactions, Nurse Chalke said there are provisions at an urgent care facility that will give the patient the assistance and medication that they need. 

“Often times we do not know what causes the reaction, but we would be able to give medication to treat it,” she said. 

Other common problems for which people seek urgent care facilities are issues relating to blood pressure. 

“If you are known to have high blood pressure or low blood pressure and you have any of the symptoms: dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches,nausea, vomiting, a general unwell feeling that is unlike anything you have had before, slurred speech, weakness of the limb or memory loss, you should seek attention immediately. Blood pressure problems especially hypertension could result in a stroke. Slurred speech, memory loss, and weakness of the limbs are classic symptoms of a stroke,” she said.

Nurse Chalke encouraged all to be aware of their bodies, and to be quick to act if something seems amiss with their health.