Health emergencies can be scary and stressful. Knowing what to do in an emergency can help you through it.
Certain problems should always be treated as emergencies. These include:
- Symptoms of a heart attack, such as chest pain or pressure or a strange feeling in the chest, back, jaw or arm.
- Severe difficulty breathing.
- Symptoms of a stroke, such as sudden numbness, tingling, weakness, or new trouble speaking or understanding.
- Severe bleeding.
- Severe accidents.
MDwise covers emergency care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you or your child have a true emergency, go to the closest hospital or call 911 right away.
The list of examples is not meant to take the place of your doctor - your doctor knows your health history best. Unless you are sure it is a health emergency, it is always best to call your doctor first.
There are other times when it is best to schedule a visit with your MDwise doctor. Here are some reasons to call your MDwise doctor first:
- If your symptoms come on slowly.
- You think your child has an ear infection.
- You or your child has cold or flu symptoms: fever, stuffy or runny nose and/or coughing.
- Rash or bug bites.
If you are still unsure what to do you can call the free MDwise NURSEon-call line at 1-800-356-1204. Choose option four for NURSEon-call. The nurse can tell you whether to go to the emergency room or wait to see your doctor.
NURSEon-call is available 24 hours a day. If you cannot reach your usual doctor and you think you or your family member will have a bad result if you do not get help right away, you may need to go to the emergency room.
Source: ©2024-2025 Ignite Healthwise, LLC. Ignite Healthwise, LLC disclaims any
liability for use of this information, which does not replace medical advice.