Urgent care facilities are designed specifically for less emergent problems and are generally open during the day as well as on evenings, weekends and most holidays. If the following conditions occur after normal working hours or if you are a visitor from out-of-town or don't have a primary care physician, a visit to the urgent care center would be appropriate.

Minor Injuries or Illnesses

Minor injuries or illnesses include:

• sprains and minor broken bones
• back problems
• cuts without profuse bleeding but requiring stitches
• earaches
• severe sore throat or cough
• mild to moderate asthma
• urinary tract infections
• other minor infections

Some accidents and illnesses are painful or frightening but are not life threatening. These conditions require care within a reasonably short amount of time due to the pain or discomfort they might cause.

Please read your health insurance plan for a detailed definition of a non-life threatening emergency.

Other Situations:

• When to Call Your Primary Care Physician
• Hospital Emergencies
• Follow-up Care and Treatment

When to Call Your Primary Care Physician

If you are a patient of Camino Medical Group, call your primary care physician first. Your primary care doctor may be able to see you in the office sooner than if you went directly to the urgent care center.

If the situation or condition requires attention between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. call the 24 hour phone number at 408-739-6000 and the physician on-call will discuss your care options. In most cases, if you contact your primary care physician and are instructed to go to an urgent care center, you will pay a regular office copayment if you have an HMO or PPO insurance plan.
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Hospital Emergencies

In case of an extreme life threatening emergency it is appropriate to go directly to the nearest hospital emergency room or patients should call 9-1-1.

Symptoms would include:

• difficulty in breathing
• unconsciousness
• severe bleeding
• poisoning
• chest pain or pressure
• moderate to severe burns
• convulsions or seizures
• serious head, neck or back injury
• loss of limb or severe broken bone

Camino Medical Group physicians are on the staff of El Camino Hospital, located at 2500 Grant Road in Mountain View. A Camino Medical Group physician will be available to provide your care at El Camino Hospital in case of an emergency. If you are admitted to El Camino Hospital, your personal physician will be able to follow your care through coordination with a staffed "hospitalist" physician.

The "hospitalist" is your physician at El Camino Hospital who will provide you with personalized care and monitor your treatment 24-hours a day. If you go to other emergency rooms, a Camino Medical Group physician can not see you nor will your previous medical history be available to the emergency staff. Hospital emergency rooms are equipped to handle trauma and life threatening crises in the order of severity. During peak times, patients presenting more minor illnesses or injuries may wait for hours and the hospital co-payments are higher for most health insurance plans. Please refer to your health plan's description of a life threatening emergency and copayment information.
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Follow-up Care and Treatment

All follow-up visits should occur through your primary care physician. This also enables your physician to make arrangements for your follow-up care and treatment. Follow-up visits in the hospital emergency room are not appropriate and will result in higher copays for the patient, longer wait times, unneeded inconvenience and possible denial of payment.
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