Doctor Medical Patient Care Nurse Call Attention Eslpod 0971 Cn

When Americans have "health insurance" (an arrangement or contract with a company that helps to pay for medical expenses), they usually want to see their "primary care physician" (main doctor; the doctor a person normally sees) if they need healthcare. But sometimes that doctor is unavailable, especially if the patient wants to "see the doctor" (have a consultation or appointment) as a "same-day visit" (on the same day when one called to request an appointment).

If the doctor is part of a "clinic" (a group of medical professionals working together in the same office), the patient might see another doctor who works in that clinic. If all the doctors are booked, the patient can choose to speak with a nurse or a "PA" (physician's assistant) instead. Nurses and PAs have received less training and education than medical doctors, but they can "handle" (deal with; address) many common "ailments" (health problems).

Sometimes people find that they don't actually need to see the doctor. Instead, their problem might be handled over the phone. Most clinics have a phone number that patients can call to leave a brief message describing the "nature" (type) of their problem. The nurse who is "on call" (assigned to respond to calls during a certain period of time) will call the patient back and provide basic medical advice, as well as a recommendation regarding whether the patient should "seek" (try to get) medical attention immediately.

If immediate medical attention is required, the patient might be directed to an "urgent care clinic" where patients can see a doctor as a same-day visit, but that doctor isn't their primary care physician. However, in a "life-threatening emergency" (a situation that could cause death), patients should go to the "ER" (emergency room) at the local hospital.