What is a sick visit?
A sick visit is a doctor’s appointment that you schedule for yourself when you believe you’re experiencing an illness or an injury that requires care quickly but is not life-threatening or severe.
Examples of symptoms, injuries, and ailments for which you may schedule a sick visit at Guardian Physicians include:
- High fever
- Muscle strains or sprains
- Green or white discharge from the eye, along with eye redness and/or itchiness
- Persistent stomach ache, earache, headache, or sore throat
- Persistent pain
- Urinary tract infection symptoms
- Flu-like symptoms
- An allergic reaction or mild/moderate asthma attack
- A persistent cough
Sick visits are for any acute illness that needs urgent attention but does not require emergency assistance. Examples of when to go to the ER include if you can’t control bleeding, have chest pain, or have a broken bone that sticks out of the skin.
What happens during a sick visit?
Dr. Oyekoya begins every sick visit by asking you about why you’ve come in. Together, you discuss your symptoms, how they began, your health history, and your family health history.
Based on these answers, she tailors the rest of your sick visit to your concerns, doing things like:
- Taking your temperature
- Listening to your breathing and heartbeat
- Looking inside your ears for signs of infection
- Feeling your throat for swollen lymph nodes
Dr. Oyekoya may also order tests like urine analysis, stool analysis, X-ray imaging, or ultrasound imaging. If you have a sore throat that indicates it may be strep throat, she performs a rapid strep test for a quick diagnosis.
Depending on your diagnosis, Dr. Oyekoya may write you a prescription for any necessary medications, and schedule a follow-up appointment.
If Dr. Oyekoya believes that you need to see a specialist, her office coordinates your care and stays in contact to monitor your progress.
How do I prepare for a sick visit?
If you can, prepare for your medical exam by:
- Making a list of your symptoms or concerns
- Making a list of your current medications, including over-the-counter varieties
- Providing any medical records that you have
Usually, your sick visit lasts between 15 and 20 minutes. Guardian Physicians also works to make sure that your wait time is as short as possible so that you can get the care you need quickly, and return home and recuperate.
If you’re not feeling well, don’t wait around at home, hoping it’ll get better. Instead, book a sick visit at Guardian Physicians online or over the phone today.
We are now offering virtual appointments. To book a virtual visit, please schedule here
