2024 Where To Go For Care

How to Decide Between Urgent Care, Virtual Care or ER When you or a loved one is sick or injured, knowing where to go to get the right care can save time, money and even life. Note: This information isn’t applicable for team members on the UPH-Meriter health plan. For symptoms that aren’t severe, you have a couple of great care options covered by the UPH Health Plan: Primary Care Many of our primary care clinics offer same-day appointments for patients. Call your provider’s office, or check MyUnityPoint, to see if they, or their care team, has an opening. This is typically the care option with the lowest cost if you’re seeing a provider that is in network. • Tip: If you don’t have a primary care provider, use the “Find a Doctor” tool to find one near you. • Cost: Lower cost than emergency care, for both the team member and our health plan. Walk-in Care Walk-in care is a great option when you need care but can’t wait to be seen by your primary care provider. Walk-in care treats minor stuff like coughs, small injuries, ear infections, fevers, non-severe burns or sprains, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, etc. • Tip: Different locations have different hours, so check ahead first. We recommend saving your spot online before coming in to reduce your time in the waiting room. • Cost: Lower cost than emergency care, for both the team member and our health plan. Virtual Urgent Care Get care from the comfort of your home. Virtual Urgent Care is available in MyUnityPoint every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Patients must be at least two years of age. Virtual care can be used to treat cold and flu, rashes, sore throat, headaches, sinus infections, allergies and more. (Virtual Care is available in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and South Dakota.) • Tip: If you don’t have a MyUnityPoint account, consider creating one before you need to use it. Also, some health conditions can’t be treated virtually and require going to a clinic. Before accessing virtual urgent care, check out the commonly treated conditions to learn if it’s the right fit for your symptoms. • Cost: Lower cost than emergency care, for both the team member and our health plan. SmartExam SmartExam is an online screening tool that treats common ailments and illnesses in less than an hour without seeing a provider. Patients must be at least two years of age. This intelligent tool asks you questions based on your provided symptoms and answers to previous questions. (Smart Exam is available in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and South Dakota.) Note: • Available to patients who are 2 years of age and older. Every day, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.