Urgent Care Clinic: A Matter of Urgency!

When you’re injured or sick, the last thing anyone wants is to join a hefty queue at a hospital A&E department. This is where walk-in medical centre Urgent Care Clinic International comes in. Specialist emergency physician DR JOANNE PROBERT explains how it works.

What exactly is urgent care and what services does Urgent Care Clinic International offer?

An urgent care clinic is a walk-in clinic focused on the delivery of medical care for minor injuries and illnesses outside the traditional hospital-based emergency department. The benefit is that we can see non-life-threatening conditions that require prompt medical attention without the long waiting times in A&E departments.

Our team, consisting of specialist adult and paediatric emergency physicians and nurses, have a large breadth of knowledge and skills, and our doctors can see everyone from babies through to the elderly with a wide range of conditions. We can also provide family medicine services including health screening, wellness, and childhood developmental checks. At UCCI, our mission is to provide patients with their personalised specialist emergency physician and to deliver high-quality, consistent and predictable medical care tailored to patients’ individual needs. Regardless of when you attend, you’ll always see the same familiar team – much like seeing your regular GP. We believe that knowing your medical team is always reassuring when faced with the chaos of medical emergencies!

Walk us through a visit to the medical clinic.

The moment you walk in, you‘ll immediately speak to a nurse, who will have you triaged to ensure you’re seeing the correct doctor in a timely fashion. We can provide x-rays, scans and blood tests on site as part of our broad investigation ensuring that the diagnostic process is efficient. We can also provide telemedicine and home visits where necessary.

Many treatments can be performed on site including suturing, casts for fractures, and intravenous medications. We have observation areas to monitor patients but can also admit them to private hospitals for overnight observation if required. We have an excellent network of specialists we can refer to.

Cost is always a concern for patients, and we strive to provide cost-conscious medical care at our centre. Patients can claim using Medisave where eligible, private medical insurance, travel insurance and personal accident insurance. Being a privately owned practice, we can adjust our professional fees for the less advantaged and foreign workers.

You have a personal passion for paediatric emergency medicine. When should parents bring their kids to an urgent care medical centre?

Minor head injuries in children are common but concussion is often overlooked. It’s also poorly understood and managed by many doctors. We can assess head injuries and concussions, arrange head scans if needed, manage concussions and guide a graduated return to school and sport. If parents have any concerns when their kids have a head knock, they should bring them in for assessment.

You also specialise in sport and exercise medicine, including working at major events like the London 2012 Olympics and the Standard Chartered Marathon. Do you have any tips for athletes?

There is so much advice I could give! A good warm-up and cool-down are often overlooked; having a good stretching routine is key. So are a healthy balanced diet, regular exercise programme and avoiding smoking and alcohol. We can treat injuries and are also equipped to assist patients with lifestyle changes, exercise prescriptions and injury prevention advice. Book an appointment with us to find out more

Urgent Care Clinic International is at #01-01 Parkroyal on Kitchener Road, 181 Kitchener Road 6910 5388 | urgentcareclinic.sg

This article first appeared in the August 2023 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!

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