We offer quality medical care when it’s inconvenient for you to get to your primary care provider or if your illness doesn’t warrant a trip to the ER.

Our extended evening hours, including weekends at select locations, make feeling better, more convenient, and more affordable, helping you get back on your feet.

Affordable and Convenient Care

Many conditions, like cold and flu or aches and sprains, don’t require an expensive trip to the hospital. If your situation isn’t life- or limb-threatening, you can be seen at one of our 10 locations. Click here to see a list of examples of the conditions we treat.

How Would you Like to be Seen?

With the kids back in school and busy fall days head, we’re here to help ensure that sickness doesn’t stop you in your tracks. We also offer Telemedicine appointments, which you can schedule online by clicking here.

Regardless of how you choose to be seen, regular office visit or Telemedicine, one of our providers will give you the care you need to get on with your busy life.

The post Now Open Later During the Week! appeared first on Quick Med Care.

Summer colds are like common colds that happen during the summer. But why do they feel worse? To break it down, even though colds are virus-based, some viruses that cause colds are more prone to warmer weather; hence, making them summer colds.

As the climate shifts, so does the viral landscape. This shift introduces enteroviruses into the mix. They’re a group of viruses that usually cause mild infectious illnesses similar to that of the common cold, and often cause these infections during the summer and fall seasons. 

The various strains and versions of enteroviruses cause multiple symptoms, some of which are uncommon for summer colds, such as sudden fever, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. 

Common Symptoms of Summer Colds

• Pressure in the sinuses or head

• Runny nose

• Sneezing

• Coughing

• Congestion

• Body and muscle aches

• Sore throat

• Low energy 

Alleviating Symptoms

Although there aren’t any cures for colds, there are ways to alleviate the symptoms: 

• Drink plenty of fluids, mostly water. Stay away from drinks that can cause dehydration, like coffee or energy drinks. 

• Rest, rest, and more rest. Getting lots of rest is very important. Allowing yourself to rest during this time allows the body to heal and recuperate faster. 

• Cough medicine/pain relievers/fever reducers

• Decongestants 

• Humidifier to help with coughing and to reduce air dryness 

Please note that antibiotics do not treat colds. This is because antibiotics only treat bacterial infections, not viral ones, like colds. 

Ways To Prevent Summer Colds

There may not be a cure for colds, yet you can still prevent yourself from catching one by:

• Frequently wash your hands

• Get plenty of sleep to strengthen your immune system

• Eat well-balanced meals

• Remain well-hydrated 

• As much as possible, avoid contact with those who are sick

Conclusion

All in all, colds are not fun in any season. If you do catch a summer cold, know that there are ways to alleviate the symptoms. 

Summer colds typically last a few days up to a week. But if you develop more concerning symptoms, take the time to speak to your healthcare provider, drop by one of our 10 locations, or click here to schedule a Telemedicine appointment.

The post Summer Colds: Why Are They So Bad? appeared first on Quick Med Care.

Now, throw in some social distancing, and it can make for some interesting celebrating this Father’s Day.

We’ve decided to compile a list of things you can do for dear dad to make him feel special on his day. Take a look below for ideas that won’t break the bank, optimize family time, and are great for forming memories.

1. Personalized Gift Basket

You know what dad likes. Maybe he works long hours and wishes to remain horizontal on his day off. Try putting together his favorite snacks so he can stretch out in his recliner for some Netflixing. You can share the best part of the experience, but remember – dad chooses the show.

1. Let Him Sleep In

This is a given for all the dads out there who are busy day in and day out dadding. The charm about this is what you’re doing while he’s sleeping. Corral the kids and make dad his favorite breakfast, complete with a fancy coffee drink. Have the kids tidy their rooms and pick up those pesky Lego pieces sharp enough to take off a toe.

1. Make Dad the Star of the Show

If dad likes to grill out, set things up for him to do what he loves with minimal effort. Marinade the kabobs and prepare the sides ahead of time. All dad has to do is put the meat on the grill and cook it to perfection. The best part is that he takes credit for such a wonderful meal without the prep work. Then help clean up so that dad can relax pool-side or in front of the game.

1. Make Dad a Card

This point pretty much speaks for itself. The significant part is that you can use whatever medium you have on-hand, even binder paper with lines. The charm behind this idea is the IOU card that you put inside your creation. Maybe it’s a fishing day or a foot rub, or one steak dinner to be redeemed in the future. You can be creative and generous as you feel fit. Not all celebrating has to happen right on Father’s Day.

1. Family Game Day/Night

Do you have a family game that you play? If not, then maybe it’s time to dust off one of those board games on your top shelf, like Monopoly. It doesn’t matter what you decide to play as long as you do it together. Make a point of laughing at dad’s corny jokes and take lots of pictures of the family festivities. If you’re extra nice, let dad win so the day can end on a high note.

From our Quick Care Med family to yours, have a wonderful Father’s Day. Remember, we have ten urgent cares across four counties to ensure everyone is well this Father’s Day. We offer office and Telemedicine visits. Click here to schedule a Telemedicine appointment.

The post 5 Ideas to Make Dad Feel Special this Father’s Day appeared first on Quick Med Care.

Should I go to my primary care office? Do I need to go to the emergency room? What exactly does an urgent care center cover? In the moment, making the split-second decisions on where to go can be difficult. We’re here to help explain the differences and what best to choose for life’s situations.

Primary Care

Taking a visit to your primary care physician is best for your long-term health and conditions. Your doctor knows your health history, which makes them best equipped to handle ongoing situations. Some primary care doctors will have a Telemedicine service to help you get seen quickly and reduce the risk of exposure for some ill patients. 

Primary care is also great for most conditions that require testing or a referral to a specialist. Sometimes you need quick non-emergency medical attention. Primary care doctors usually require an appointment, and you may have to wait a few days to be seen. Many illnesses and injuries benefit from quick medical treatment. This is where urgent care shines.

Urgent Care

Urgent care is excellent in that you can get seen the same day as your need arises; after hours and on weekends. When you require care urgently, but you don’t have a life-threatening emergency. Most illnesses can be handled by urgent care if they don’t require testing or extensive medical history knowledge to diagnose and treat.

If you suspect that you have a severe sprain, break, or require stitches, urgent care can give you the quick treatment you need without the emergency room’s wait or price. Most urgent care offices will have a Telemedicine service available as well. With Telemedicine, a medical professional can get seen from home right on your phone or computer. 

However, if your injuries are life or limb-threatening, don’t hesitate to go to the ER instead.

Emergency Room

The ER is best used for life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Emergency rooms are equipped to handle anything with faculties, equipment, and expertise. A broken finger can undoubtedly be treated by urgent care. An arm that is broken in several places is best handled in the emergency room, so you can immediately get the level of care you need.

While life-threatening concerns will be seen immediately, anything non-life-threatening may end up waiting to be seen for quite a time. Emergency rooms are required to provide treatment regardless of ability to pay; whereas doctors’ offices are allowed to request proof of insurance and proof of payment ahead of time. This leads to more people heading to the ER for non-emergency treatment because they can’t afford the upfront office fees.

No matter the need, any medical professional will do all they can to assist you in the circumstance. Don’t hesitate when the need arises. Visit Quick Care Med if you need urgent care, or Click Here to schedule a telemedicine appointment.

The post Primary, Urgent and Emergency Care: Where Should You Go? appeared first on Quick Med Care.

“We had consolidated our resources to help provide care for our communities in the best way possible, with better access to supplies and testing. We’re now taking steps to return back to normal, starting with our Crystal River location,” said Charley Marie Balbuena, Operations Manager for Quick Care Med.

Your Health is Our Priority

COVID-19 is not ‘over’ and it’s important to us that we are able to provide you with easy and safe access to healthcare and to testing.

We’re taking the necessary precautions by strictly adhering to CDC Guidelines^[1] and ensuring that you are seen in a germ-free environment at all of our locations. Here are a few measures that we are taking to ensure your safety:

• Daily checks on public health guidance and new legislation

• Regularly disinfecting the waiting room throughout the day, and examination rooms after each visit

• Offering choice of check-in from the office lobby or from the comfort of your car – just give us a call when you arrive and one of our representatives will come out to your car to get you registered

Different Ways to be Seen: Office Visits and Telemedicine

We offer the flexibility of being seen by one of our providers via your digital device, like your phone or tablet.

Click here to schedule a Telemedicine appointment online 
Click here to learn more about how Telemedicine visits work

It’s our mission to provide you with the medical care you need, in a way you’re most comfortable.

We have locations across central Florida, including Crystal River, of course. Please click here for your neighborhood Quick Care Med’s contact information and hours of operation.

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at (844) 797-8425, Option 2, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

^{1 CDC Guidelines}

The post Crystal River Quick Care Med Reopened! appeared first on Quick Med Care.

We’re happy to announce that our Williston location will reopen this Wednesday and remain open: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

We’d like to take a moment recognize our neighbors as your support is integral to us moving forward as a resource in our communities. From the bottom of our hearts to you and your family: Thank you. 

Take a look at the following for updates regarding our hours of operation. Click here for a complete list of locations with addresses and hours of operation:

Williston (reopening on the 22nd): Monday to Friday, 9-5

Inverness, Beverly Hills, Chiefland, Homosassa: Sunday to Saturday, 9-5

Dunnellon, Ocala SR200: Monday to Saturday, 9-5

Silver Springs: Monday to Friday, 9-5

The post Williston Quick Care Med to Reopen Wednesday, April 22nd appeared first on Quick Med Care.

Rest assured, we have taken all precautions to ensure that our clinics are germ-free; however, we are taking additional steps to safeguard your health and safety. We will do whatever it takes to offer our community healthcare options.

We offer three options for you to be seen by our healthcare providers. Choose the option most comfortable and fitting for you:

1. Visit with traditional in-lobby check-in while maintain 6 feet of social distance (for those patients not experiencing flu-like symptoms)

2. Visit with a check-in from your car. Call us when you arrive for an appointment. A staff member will come out to your car to get your information, and bring it back to you once the check-in is complete. You can wait in your car until the provider is ready to see you (for patients experiencing flu-like symptoms and for those who choose to wait in their car).

3. Telemedicine Visit in the comfort of your home with drive by testing if needed or available. Click here to make an appointment now.

The post Check in for Appointments from your Car appeared first on Quick Med Care.

Basically, bacteria are everywhere. They’re in the air we breathe, living on your skin, and on everything we touch. Most bacteria are harmless with only 1% of bacteria causing disease, according to the Mayo Clinic; however, they can make you really sick, just ask someone who has had strep throat.
If you feel like you’re getting sick, go see your provider to determine if it’s a virus or a bacterial infection. The two can share similar symptoms and there are instances where illnesses can be caused by either bacteria or viruses, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and diarrhea.
Your provider will review your symptoms, medical history and do a physical exam. He or she may also order a blood or urine test to help identify the infection. It may be a necessary step for determining a suitable treatment.

You could be doing yourself more harm than good by arbitrarily popping an antibiotic when you feel under the weather. That’s because antibiotics can’t differentiate between “good” and “bad” bacteria. We have good bacteria in our intestines that aid with digestion and help to obliterate disease-fighting microbes. Furthermore, the overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

Both viral and bacterial infections start with exposure to infected people or contact with contaminated surfaces, food or water. Although it’s impossible for us to live in a bubble, a good start to avoiding sickness is to practice a dedicated handwashing regimen: wet, lather, scrub (20 seconds), rinse, and dry.

Drop by your neighborhood Quick Care Med if you’re feeling under the weather. We offer extended hours and 10 locations to provide the best care possible to get you back on your feet and feeling better. Visit our locations page for your closest urgent care.

The post Bacterial & Viral Infections: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Quick Med Care.

The Influenza virus, otherwise known as the flu, is highly contagious and infects the nose, throat and lungs of its sufferers. Symptoms range from mild to severe and can last for up to two (incredibly) painful weeks. You can be infectious the day before you exhibit symptoms, up to 7 days after your symptoms appear. Children and those with compromised immune systems can remain contagious for an even longer period of time. Obviously, quarantining to avoid spreading the flu virus can be tricky business.

Symptoms

The flu presents itself in a number of different ways, and comes on abruptly; unlike cold symptoms, which appear gradually (2 to 3 days) and slowly go away. Surprisingly, vomiting and diarrhea is not a typical flu symptom, and mostly affects children and only 10% of flu sufferers. If your primary symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea, then you’re probably battling gastroenteritis or a stomach virus, not the flu. Common flu symptoms include:

• Intense fatigue that’s marked by extreme weakness

• Body aches / chills and fever

• Chest discomfort / cough – dry or with phlegm

• Sore throat

• Runny nose or congestion

• Headache

• Vomiting and diarrhea

  Treatment

Antibiotics are for infections caused by bacteria, so they’re ineffective for the treatment of viruses, like the flu. You can request an antiviral from your provider if you have a chronic condition or suppressed immunity. These drugs work best if you take them within 48 hours of exhibiting symptoms. Although general, the following treatments can help ease your symptoms:

• Rest

• Drink plenty of fluids

• Treat aches and pains with over-the-counter pain reliever

• Take a cough suppressant or throat lozenge

• Sit in a steam bath / use a humidifier to ease congestion

• Use saline nasal spray to open nasal passages

When to Seek Urgent Care

Most likely, you will get over the flu without having to see a provider; however, there are instances where it’s in your best interest to seek urgent care:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Chest pain or abdominal pain

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

• Flu-like symptoms that appear to get better, but then return with a fever and worse cough

• Swelling in the mouth or throat

Quick Care Med has 10 locations, across 4 counties in central Florida. We’re open extended hours and weekends to serve you. Consider us your affordable and time-saving alternative to the ER. Click here to find the closest location to you.

The post The Flu: What to do? appeared first on Quick Med Care.

What is a sunburn?

You might wonder: what exactly is a sunburn and how does it happen? It’s a valid question, considering you’ve probably suffered through a few sunburns in your lifetime.

Quite simply, sunburns are your skin’s defensive reaction to ultraviolet radiation: UV-A and UV-B rays to be specific. The third type of ray, UV-C, could be the most dangerous of all, but it’s completely blocked out by the ozone layer and doesn’t reach the earth’s surface.

Those of us with darker complexions have higher levels of melanin, which helps protect the skin by converting UV light to heat. When you’re fair skinned, your body doesn’t produce the melanin necessary to protect you from the sun’s death rays, causing your cells to die. In turn, your body reacts by sending blood to the affected areas, which accounts for your newfangled lobster glow.

Don’t let cool cloudy weather fool you. You can’t feel UV rays – the heat from the sun comes from infrared rays, which can’t burn you. This is why you can still burn on days that are overcast.

How to treat a sunburn

• Act fast to cool down by dipping in a pool or the ocean but make it brief as to not extend your time in the sun

• Moisturize while your skin still damp, but make sure your lotion is not oil- or petroleum-based as it can trap in the heat and exacerbate the burn

• Decrease the inflammation by taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin

• Replenish your fluids by drinking extra liquids, including water and sports drinks that help to replenish electrolytes, immediately and while your skin heals

• See your doctor if you have severe blistering over a large portion of your body, or if you’re experiencing chills or feel woozy

How do you avoid sunburns?

To avoid damage from the sun, slather on a broad-spectrum sunscreen of 30 spf or higher and reapply it every hour. Try wearing protective clothing, a hat with a wide brim, and sunglasses. Also, keep an eye on the UV index: the higher the number, the stronger the UV, and the less time you should be out in the sun. The sun’s rays are typically strongest between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm.
What are the long-term effects?

We all know that exposure to too much UV radiation can lead to premature aging and skin cancer. Too much UV radiation can damage the genetic material (the DNA) in your skin cells. If enough DNA damage builds up over time, it can cause cells to start growing out of control, which can lead to skin cancer. One study reveals that getting sunburn, just once every 2 years, can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer.

And for the record, there is no such thing as a healthy tan. It’s in your best interest to embrace an outdoor skincare regimen that will keep your skin healthy all year round.

Sources and Citations
Cancer Research UK. How the Sun and UV Cause Cancer. Retrieved from http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/sun-uv-and-cancer/how-the-sun-and-uv-cause-cancer
How to Prevent a Sunburn. Retrieved from https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-a-Sunburn
Skin Cancer Foundation (May 27, 2016). 5 Ways to Treat a Sunburn. Retrieved from https://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sunburn/five-ways-to-treat-a-sunburn
Zainab Mudallal (June 4, 2015). There’s a Real Reason Some People Get Sunburns and Others Don’t. Retrieved from https://www.elitedaily.com/life/actually-happens-body-get-sunburn/1054488

The post Sunburn appeared first on Quick Med Care.