One question that pops up frequently for those who use Carle Health services: Should I go to Convenient Care? Or should I go to Convenient Care Plus? Or should I head to the emergency department?
Fair questions, all. So let’s explore when it’s the best time to visit each of these three Carle entities.
Convenient Care
Convenient Care offers walk-in treatment whether you’ve been a patient in the past or not. Appointments are not needed but are available. They can be made via MyCarle.com.
Convenient Care offers diagnosis and treatment for many common and acute health issues including, but not limited to:
- Allergies and asthma
- Cold and flu symptoms
- Minor injuries
- Ear aches
- Minor cuts and infections
- Sore throats
- Urinary tract infections
In Champaign-Urbana, Convenient Care locations are at 1701 W. Curtis Road in Champaign and 1818 E. Windsor Road in Urbana.
Carle provides this symptom checker to help patients determine where to seek treatment.
Convenient Care Plus
In short, Convenient Care Plus is a level of walk-in care that’s somewhere between Convenient Care and the emergency room. It is now located in Carle’s South Clinic at 601 W. University Ave. in Urbana.
Convenient Care Plus, which first opened inside of Carle Hospital in Urbana several years ago, offers “traditional” convenient care treatment like all of the problems listed above in addition to advanced testing like X-rays, ultrasounds and lab tests.
It’s for patients who have symptoms that aren’t minor or serious, but fall somewhere in between. Injuries that require x-rays, pain that may need an ultrasound, symptoms that need lab test results right away — Convenient Care Plus is designed for patients that need immediate, but not emergency, care.
If you find yourself unsure whether you should go to Convenient Care or the Emergency Department, this is where to go. The location makes transfer to the ED simple, if need be, and provides on-site laboratory and radiology care.
It is important to note that appointments are NOT available at Convenient Care Plus. Some tests may require extended wait times or may be unavailable due to high patient volumes.
At Convenient Care and Convenient Care Plus, it is possible your provider may determine you need further medical attention at a higher level of care, and can arrange for a transfer to your preferred hospital.
Emergency room
If you are experiencing life-threatening conditions, you should go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 immediately. The Emergency Department is located at 602 W. University Ave. in Urbana. Carle’s ER is the only state-designated Level 1 Trauma Center in the region. That means Carle has experienced personnel and the facilities and equipment necessary to provide specialized care to all trauma patients, regardless of the extent or type of trauma.
RELATED: MyCarle provides users a path to convenient health care
Editor’s note: Carle Health is a sponsor of Chambanamoms.com.