Lindsey Morton: They're spread throughout Lee County, but when should you use a Convenient Care and when is it time to go straight to the emergency department?

Suzanne Fiscill...: And the emergency room is where we really, really encourage patients to go when they have chest pain, they're short of breath, they're having stroke symptoms, which most people know what those are now. They might have a broken leg or broken arm, and the bone is actually sticking out of the person.

Lindsey Morton: Nurse practitioner, Suzanne Fiscella says it's important to make an appointment with your primary care physician if you have any medical concerns. But if a patient can't wait to see their doctor, Convenient Cares are equipped to help. If a patient has flu like symptoms, a sudden rash, a minor laceration or a broken bone, Convenient Care is the place to go if you can't get in with your primary care physician.

Suzanne Fiscill...: And we do take you in priority. If you're having chest pain or something short of breath, we'll pull you back, but we'll also get you out by ambulance faster.

Lindsey Morton: If a patient needs emergency care, an ambulance can transfer them from Convenient Care to a hospital emergency department.

Suzanne Fiscill...: If the patient has hit their head or they lost consciousness, they need to go to the ER because they have the CT scan there.

Lindsey Morton: After leaving a Convenient Care, it's important patients follow up with their physician.

Suzanne Fiscill...: Take for instance, pneumonia. Even though we might treat pneumonia at the urgent care or convenient care, we want to make sure that somebody else has listened to those lungs down the road.

Lindsey Morton: Convenient Care can offer care for patients who don't need immediate medical care, but who can't wait to see their doctor. For Lee health, I'm Lindsey Morton.

Speaker 1: My right ear's been having a problem. But it really has so don't get excited if it's all red.