When you’re experiencing scary or unusual symptoms or something just doesn’t feel right, it can be tempting to think that emergency room is your best option.
But visits to the ER are not only expensive, time-consuming, and depersonalized, they’re also not always necessary.
It’s easy to feel like the emergency room is your only (or best) choice when something’s not right or when you need follow-up care for an injury. However, a primary care provider (PCP) can often identify the problem and its urgency, offer the care you need, or help you find the right place to get treated for a specific concern.
That’s where One Medical comes in.
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Call us first.
Day or night, you can call any One Medical office to be connected with our Virtual Medical Team. One of our providers will be there for you — to answer your questions, assess your symptoms, and help you determine the best next step.
If it turns out your situation isn’t urgent, your provider may be able to book you a same or next-day visit to see a One Medical provider in the office. And, of course, our team is always available — over the phone or direct message — to walk you through follow-up care and address any additional concerns. ER visits can sometimes lead to over-testing and other misguided care because ER clinicians do not have their patients’ full medical records, another reason to call us first so we can provide the best guidance on what care you need.
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Among our patients, we’ve found that about 40 percent of ER visits could have been avoided. By calling us first, our medical team can help you assess how you’re feeling and determine the best next steps for your care. While our Virtual Medical Team is not a substitution for emergency care when you truly need it, in many cases, your symptoms can be assessed and treated by a phone visit with a One Medical provider or during an in-office appointment.
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So, the next time you have unsettling symptoms, give us a call first. Save your local One Medical number in your phone now:
- Boston: 617-419-2893
- Chicago: 312-999-5512
- Los Angeles: 323-305-7606
- New York: 212-441-4383
- Phoenix: 602-218-4077
- San Francisco Bay Area: 415-523-6317
- Virginia & Washington, D.C.: 202-697-5520
We’re always on call, ready to help during those moments when you’re not sure what to do. If you’re in a life-threatening situation, please call 911.
The One Medical blog is published by One Medical, a national, modern primary care practice pairing 24/7 virtual care services with inviting and convenient in-person care at over 100 locations across the U.S. One Medical is on a mission to transform health care for all through a human-centered, technology-powered approach to caring for people at every stage of life.
Any general advice posted on our blog, website, or app is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or substitute for any medical or other advice. 1Life Healthcare, Inc. and the One Medical entities make no representations or warranties and expressly disclaim any and all liability concerning any treatment, action by, or effect on any person following the general information offered or provided within or through the blog, website, or app. If you have specific concerns or a situation arises in which you require medical advice, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified medical services provider.