Sick Visits

Feeling unwell or having a sick child is distressing, so it’s reassuring to know you can turn to a trusted primary care provider. The Maltman Medical Center team in Knoxville, Tennessee, offers sick visits to established patients, often with same-day availability. From minor injuries to the flu, stomach bugs, and ear infections, they can help you or your child feel better. Call Maltman Medical Center to schedule a sick visit or request an acute care consultation online today.

What are sick visits?

Sick visits are appointments you attend when you or your children are unwell or require urgent care.

Many primary care visits are for routine and nonurgent health care needs, such as immunizations, annual physicals, and chronic disease management. A sick visit offers more immediate care when you’re ill or injured but don’t have a life-threatening problem requiring hospital emergency room treatment.

What health problems might require sick visits?

Many common illnesses and minor injuries don’t need medical attention. For example, if you’re healthy and take care of yourself with rest and plenty of fluids, a cold should clear up within a week. Over-the-counter medications can also help by easing cold and headache symptoms.

If your health isn’t so good because of a chronic disease or older age, illnesses like these are more likely to result in complications. A cold or flu, for instance, could develop into more dangerous conditions like bronchitis or pneumonia. Infants and young children are also more at risk if they get infections or have a high fever.

If your symptoms are worsening, a sick visit would be wise. Persistent problems like coughs or headaches that don’t go away are also worth investigating in case you have a chest or sinus infection. Other symptoms that often require sick visits when they’re severe or persistent include:

• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Fever 
• Skin rashes
• Sore throat
• Painful urination
• Dehydration

Injuries, such as sprains and strains, acute back or neck pain, and minor cuts, burns, and scalds, might also benefit from a sick visit.

What happens at a sick visit?

Sick visits are like a routine consultation, where your Maltman Medical Center provider assesses your symptoms, looks at your medical history, and completes a thorough physical exam. Depending on what’s wrong, you might need diagnostics such as blood and/or urine tests, a throat or nasal swab, or procedures like X-rays, electrocardiograms, or ultrasound scans.

Once they determine what’s causing your symptoms, your provider can prescribe any medication you need. They may need to clean, stitch, and dress wounds or apply a support bandage or splint for a musculoskeletal problem. Intravenous (IV) hydration therapy is available for rapid rehydration.

In addition to same-day sick visits for established patients, the Maltman Medical Center team also offers telemedicine appointments. Their secure systems use encrypted video link technology, enabling you to consult your provider without visiting the practice.

To request a sick visit, call Maltman Medical Center or request an in-person or telemedicine appointment online today.