By Baptist Health Staff News Team
Not so very long ago, if you had an illness or injury that couldn’t wait for your regular doctor’s office hours, the Emergency Department at your local hospital was your only option. Today, your choices have multiplied.
Baptist Health, for instance, has Emergency Departments in all 12 of its area hospitals — including Baptist Health Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables — as well as several freestanding Emergency Departments and dozens of Urgent Care and Urgent Care Express locations across the region.
So when should you go to one or the other? If waiting to see a doctor tomorrow isn’t an option, David Mishkin, M.D., an emergency medicine specialist with Baptist Health, says whether you go to the Emergency Department or to Urgent Care comes down to the severity of your symptoms, your injury and any other health complications you might have.
Emergency care or urgent care?
“It depends on what your symptoms are, of course, and also your medical history,” says Dr. Mishkin. “While there is a lot of overlap between the two when it comes to treating minor medical conditions, our Emergency Departments are equipped to evaluate and treat our sickest patients — those with more serious or life-threatening conditions.”
Dr. Mishkin adds that patients who are older or who have chronic medical conditions or significant symptoms should be seen as early as possible.
Injuries should always be evaluated promptly, according to Dr. Mishkin, as patients may need wound care, splinting or other acute treatment. All Baptist Health Urgent Care and Urgent Care Express locations are equipped with X-ray, he says, and more advanced imaging is available in all Baptist Health Emergency Departments.
Staffed by board-certified physicians
Urgent Care is a convenient resource for non-life-threatening conditions, and summer brings a host of them, Dr. Mishkin says. “Our Urgent Care locations are staffed by board-certified physicians and offer onsite labs and advanced imaging like X-ray and, in most cases, CT scans, if needed.”
Baptist Health’s same-day care services tend to be in higher demand during the summer, according to Dr. Mishkin. “We get a lot of swimmer’s ear infections this time of year, as well as insect bites or stings and heat exhaustion. It’s part of what we prepare for each year.”
Dr. Mishkin says that Florida leads the nation in hospital visits for heat-related conditions and that people can do their part “by taking simple preventive steps, such as staying hydrated, using sunscreen and avoiding strenuous activity during peak afternoon heat.”
Diagnosing and treating seasonal viruses
Even though the winter virus season is still months away, Baptist Health Urgent Care centers have been treating a lot of viral infections lately, according to Dr. Mishkin. These include colds, flu and COVID-19, which he says is still present but not at the levels seen in previous years.
“When people come down with the flu or COVID-19 — both of which can very often present suddenly or acutely — they’re looking to us to provide evaluation and symptomatic relief,” Dr. Mishkin acknowledges. “Our Urgent Care locations and Emergency Departments are readily available to help evaluate and manage seasonal viruses quickly and safely so you can get back to feeling better as soon as possible.”
A convenient first step: Virtual urgent care
According to Dr. Mishkin, Baptist Health Virtual Urgent Care is a convenient first-line resource that lets you quickly and easily connect with a provider who can help diagnose and treat your symptoms and even guide you to where to get care if you need to be seen in person.
“We encourage patients to use our virtual urgent care option on our convenient and secure Baptist Health PineApp,” Dr. Mishkin says. “Baptist Health Virtual Urgent Care providers are available 24/7 and can help with diagnosis, treatment and referrals to specialists, if needed.”
Compassionate, high-quality care
Regardless of where you get care, Dr. Mishkin says Baptist Health is committed to providing the compassionate, high-quality care Baptist Health is known for. He says every Baptist Health site across South Florida is staffed with highly trained nurses and clinicians who provide excellent care for the ill and injured.
“Our network of same-day care services work together to help our patients navigate any acute or sudden medical need,” says Dr. Mishkin. “We take a great deal of pride in this responsibility and are readily available to help when needed.”
However, Dr. Mishkin emphasizes, when you or a loved one is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, your first step — always — should be to call 911. “Don’t waste precious time trying to figure out where to go or trying to drive there yourself,” he says. “Every minute matters.”
Emergency Care and Urgent Care in Coral Gables
Baptist Health Doctors Hospital Emergency Department | Coral Gables
5000 University Drive
Coral Gables, FL 33146
Baptist Health Urgent Care | Coral Gables
10 Giralda Avenue
Suite 100
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Sponsored by Baptist Health
