The pandemic shut down the world as we knew it for months at a time. Even though the pandemic isn’t over yet, the number of new covid-19 cases has started to slow down with vaccines rolling out across the globe. The fear of catching covid-19 led some people to delay treatment for their injuries and illnesses in 2020. Deciding to delay treatment may have seemed like the safest option at the time, but now it’s time to prioritize your health. Injury treatment should be your top priority as things start to go back to normal in 2021.
The Importance of Timely Injury Treatment
There’s a common misconception that delaying injury treatment is harmless. You’re already injured, so what’s the harm in waiting a little longer to get treated, right? Wrong! Injury treatment that’s delayed has been proven to have direct links to worsening injury conditions. Patients that have certain comorbidities are at an even higher risk of their condition getting worse if they aren’t treated quickly after an injury. The same conditions that may make you high-risk for covid-19 can also make it harder for your body to heal an injury without medical intervention.
Safe Treatment Options in 2021
Getting treatment for your injury in 2021 can be both safe and easy. Urgent care centers and walk-in clinics both provide quick care with no appointment required. Many of those locations even have people wait in their car until it’s time to go into an exam room, limiting the time you spend potentially exposed to the virus. Telemedicine is also available to triage prior to your appointment. This allows the physician to order any testing that needs to be done before you come in and speed up the process.
Anyone over the age of 12 years old is eligible for the covid-19 vaccine. Covid-19 vaccines are proven to reduce the risk of contracting the virus and making the symptoms less severe if you do get the virus. Those vaccines are available at your nearby urgent care center too. That means you can get your injury treated and get vaccinated all in the same visit! The CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors and maintain at least 3 feet between yourself and other people. Luckily, medical centers are highly experienced at following those guidelines by now. Each exam room is thoroughly cleaned between patients too. The risk of getting your injury treated in 2021 is lower than the risk of leaving that injury untreated while it continues to get worse.
Contact your local urgent care center today for more information on hours of operation, available vaccines, and telemedicine appointments! Almost any injury that’s not life threatening can be treated at an urgent care center, so there’s no need to spend hours waiting in the emergency room.